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<title>Love's Labour's Lost</title>

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<section id="preamble">

<h1>Love's Labor's Lost</h1>

<section id="dramatis-personae"><h2>Dramatis Personae</h2>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>FERDINAND, king of Navarre.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="lords attending on the King.">
  <li>BIRON</li>
  <li>LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>DUMAIN</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="lords attending on the Princess of France.">
  <li>BOYET</li>
  <li>MERCADE</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard.</li>
  <li>SIR NATHANIEL, a curate.</li>
  <li>HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster.</li>
  <li>DULL, a constable.</li>
  <li>COSTARD, a clown.</li>
  <li>MOTH, page to Armado.</li>
  <li>A Forester.</li>
  <li>The PRINCESS of France.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="ladies attending on the Princess.">
  <li>ROSALINE</li>
  <li>MARIA</li>
  <li>KATHARINE</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>JAQUENETTA, a country wench.</li>
  <li>Lords, Attendants, &c.</li>
</ol>

</section>

<div id="scene-description">SCENE  Navarre.</div>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT I</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  The king of Navarre's park.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter FERDINAND king of Navarre, BIRON, LONGAVILLE
and DUMAIN</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,</li>
  <li>Live register'd upon our brazen tombs</li>
  <li>And then grace us in the disgrace of death;</li>
  <li>When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,</li>
  <li class="number">The endeavor of this present breath may buy</li>
  <li>That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge</li>
  <li>And make us heirs of all eternity.</li>
  <li>Therefore, brave conquerors —  for so you are,</li>
  <li>That war against your own affections</li>
  <li class="number">And the huge army of the world's desires —  </li>
  <li>Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:</li>
  <li>Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;</li>
  <li>Our court shall be a little Academe,</li>
  <li>Still and contemplative in living art.</li>
  <li class="number">You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville,</li>
  <li>Have sworn for three years' term to live with me</li>
  <li>My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes</li>
  <li>That are recorded in this schedule here:</li>
  <li>Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names,</li>
  <li class="number">That his own hand may strike his honour down</li>
  <li>That violates the smallest branch herein:</li>
  <li>If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do,</li>
  <li>Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast:</li>
  <li class="number">The mind shall banquet, though the body pine:</li>
  <li>Fat paunches have lean pates, and dainty bits</li>
  <li>Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>My loving lord, Dumain is mortified:</li>
  <li>The grosser manner of these world's delights</li>
  <li class="number">He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves:</li>
  <li>To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;</li>
  <li>With all these living in philosophy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I can but say their protestation over;</li>
  <li>So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,</li>
  <li class="number">That is, to live and study here three years.</li>
  <li>But there are other strict observances;</li>
  <li>As, not to see a woman in that term,</li>
  <li>Which I hope well is not enrolled there;</li>
  <li>And one day in a week to touch no food</li>
  <li class="number">And but one meal on every day beside,</li>
  <li>The which I hope is not enrolled there;</li>
  <li>And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,</li>
  <li>And not be seen to wink of all the day — </li>
  <li>When I was wont to think no harm all night</li>
  <li class="number">And make a dark night too of half the day — </li>
  <li>Which I hope well is not enrolled there:</li>
  <li>O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,</li>
  <li>Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Let me say no, my liege, an if you please:</li>
  <li>I only swore to study with your grace</li>
  <li>And stay here in your court for three years' space.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.</li>
  <li class="number">What is the end of study? let me know.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Why, that to know, which else we should not know.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Ay, that is study's godlike recompense.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Come on, then; I will swear to study so,</li>
  <li class="number">To know the thing I am forbid to know:</li>
  <li>As thus —  to study where I well may dine,</li>
  <li>When I to feast expressly am forbid;</li>
  <li>Or study where to meet some mistress fine,</li>
  <li>When mistresses from common sense are hid;</li>
  <li class="number">Or, having sworn too hard a keeping oath,</li>
  <li>Study to break it and not break my troth.</li>
  <li>If study's gain be thus and this be so,</li>
  <li>Study knows that which yet it doth not know:</li>
  <li>Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">These be the stops that hinder study quite</li>
  <li>And train our intellects to vain delight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain,</li>
  <li>Which with pain purchased doth inherit pain:</li>
  <li>As, painfully to pore upon a book</li>
  <li class="number">To seek the light of truth; while truth the while</li>
  <li>Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:</li>
  <li>Light seeking light doth light of light beguile:</li>
  <li>So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,</li>
  <li>Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.</li>
  <li class="number">Study me how to please the eye indeed</li>
  <li>By fixing it upon a fairer eye,</li>
  <li>Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed</li>
  <li>And give him light that it was blinded by.</li>
  <li>Study is like the heaven's glorious sun</li>
  <li class="number">That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks:</li>
  <li>Small have continual plodders ever won</li>
  <li>Save base authority from others' books</li>
  <li>These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights</li>
  <li>That give a name to every fixed star</li>
  <li class="number">Have no more profit of their shining nights</li>
  <li>Than those that walk and wot not what they are.</li>
  <li>Too much to know is to know nought but fame;</li>
  <li>And every godfather can give a name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>How well he's read, to reason against reading!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>He weeds the corn and still lets grow the weeding.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>The spring is near when green geese are a-breeding.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>How follows that?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Fit in his place and time.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">In reason nothing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Something then in rhyme.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Biron is like an envious sneaping frost,</li>
  <li>That bites the first-born infants of the spring.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast</li>
  <li class="number">Before the birds have any cause to sing?</li>
  <li>Why should I joy in any abortive birth?</li>
  <li>At Christmas I no more desire a rose</li>
  <li>Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth;</li>
  <li>But like of each thing that in season grows.</li>
  <li class="number">So you, to study now it is too late,</li>
  <li>Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Well, sit you out: go home, Biron: adieu.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you:</li>
  <li>And though I have for barbarism spoke more</li>
  <li class="number">Than for that angel knowledge you can say,</li>
  <li>Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore</li>
  <li>And bide the penance of each three years' day.</li>
  <li>Give me the paper; let me read the same;</li>
  <li>And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Reads  'Item, That no woman shall come within a</li>
  <li>mile of my court:' Hath this been proclaimed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Four days ago.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Let's see the penalty.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Reads</li>
  <li class="number">'On pain of losing her tongue.' Who devised this penalty?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Marry, that did I.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Sweet lord, and why?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>To fright them hence with that dread penalty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>A dangerous law against gentility!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Reads</li>
  <li class="number">'Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman</li>
  <li>within the term of three years, he shall endure such</li>
  <li>public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise.'</li>
  <li>This article, my liege, yourself must break;</li>
  <li>For well you know here comes in embassy</li>
  <li class="number">The French king's daughter with yourself to speak — </li>
  <li>A maid of grace and complete majesty — </li>
  <li>About surrender up of Aquitaine</li>
  <li>To her decrepit, sick and bedrid father:</li>
  <li>Therefore this article is made in vain,</li>
  <li class="number">Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>What say you, lords? Why, this was quite forgot.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>So study evermore is overshot:</li>
  <li>While it doth study to have what it would</li>
  <li>It doth forget to do the thing it should,</li>
  <li class="number">And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,</li>
  <li>'Tis won as towns with fire, so won, so lost.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>We must of force dispense with this decree;</li>
  <li>She must lie here on mere necessity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Necessity will make us all forsworn</li>
  <li class="number">Three thousand times within this three years' space;</li>
  <li>For every man with his affects is born,</li>
  <li>Not by might master'd but by special grace:</li>
  <li>If I break faith, this word shall speak for me;</li>
  <li>I am forsworn on 'mere necessity.'</li>
  <li class="number">So to the laws at large I write my name:</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Subscribes</li>
  <li>And he that breaks them in the least degree</li>
  <li>Stands in attainder of eternal shame:</li>
  <li>Suggestions are to other as to me;</li>
  <li>But I believe, although I seem so loath,</li>
  <li class="number">I am the last that will last keep his oath.</li>
  <li>But is there no quick recreation granted?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted</li>
  <li>With a refined traveller of Spain;</li>
  <li>A man in all the world's new fashion planted,</li>
  <li class="number">That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;</li>
  <li>One whom the music of his own vain tongue</li>
  <li>Doth ravish like enchanting harmony;</li>
  <li>A man of complements, whom right and wrong</li>
  <li>Have chose as umpire of their mutiny:</li>
  <li class="number">This child of fancy, that Armado hight,</li>
  <li>For interim to our studies shall relate</li>
  <li>In high-born words the worth of many a knight</li>
  <li>From tawny Spain lost in the world's debate.</li>
  <li>How you delight, my lords, I know not, I;</li>
  <li class="number">But, I protest, I love to hear him lie</li>
  <li>And I will use him for my minstrelsy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Armado is a most illustrious wight,</li>
  <li>A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Costard the swain and he shall be our sport;</li>
  <li class="number">And so to study, three years is but short.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DULL with a letter, and COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>Which is the duke's own person?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This, fellow: what wouldst?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his</li>
  <li>grace's tharborough: but I would see his own person</li>
  <li class="number">in flesh and blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This is he.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>Signior Arme — Arme — commends you. There's villany</li>
  <li>abroad: this letter will tell you more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">A letter from the magnificent Armado.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>To hear? or forbear laughing?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to</li>
  <li class="number">forbear both.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to</li>
  <li>climb in the merriness.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta.</li>
  <li>The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">In what manner?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>In manner and form following, sir; all those three:</li>
  <li>I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with</li>
  <li>her upon the form, and taken following her into the</li>
  <li>park; which, put together, is in manner and form</li>
  <li class="number">following. Now, sir, for the manner —  it is the</li>
  <li>manner of a man to speak to a woman: for the form —  </li>
  <li>in some form.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>For the following, sir?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend</li>
  <li class="number">the right!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Will you hear this letter with attention?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>As we would hear an oracle.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent and</li>
  <li class="number">sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's god,</li>
  <li>and body's fostering patron.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Not a word of Costard yet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'So it is,' — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, in</li>
  <li class="number">telling true, but so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Peace!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Be to me and every man that dares not fight!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>No words!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Of other men's secrets, I beseech you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Reads  'So it is, besieged with sable-coloured</li>
  <li>melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour</li>
  <li>to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving</li>
  <li>air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to</li>
  <li>walk. The time when. About the sixth hour; when</li>
  <li class="number">beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down</li>
  <li>to that nourishment which is called supper: so much</li>
  <li>for the time when. Now for the ground which; which,</li>
  <li>I mean, I walked upon: it is y-cleped thy park. Then</li>
  <li>for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter</li>
  <li class="number">that obscene and preposterous event, that draweth</li>
  <li>from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which</li>
  <li>here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest;</li>
  <li>but to the place where; it standeth north-north-east</li>
  <li>and by east from the west corner of thy curious-</li>
  <li class="number">knotted garden: there did I see that low-spirited</li>
  <li>swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,' — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Me?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'that unlettered small-knowing soul,' — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Me?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Reads  'that shallow vassal,' — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Still me?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'which, as I remember, hight Costard,' — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>O, me!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'sorted and consorted, contrary to thy</li>
  <li class="number">established proclaimed edict and continent canon,</li>
  <li>which with —  O, with — but with this I passion to say</li>
  <li>wherewith —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>With a wench.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'with a child of our grandmother Eve, a</li>
  <li class="number">female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a</li>
  <li>woman. Him I, as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on,</li>
  <li>have sent to thee, to receive the meed of</li>
  <li>punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Anthony</li>
  <li>Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and</li>
  <li class="number">estimation.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>'Me, an't shall please you; I am Anthony Dull.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Reads  'For Jaquenetta —  so is the weaker vessel</li>
  <li>called which I apprehended with the aforesaid</li>
  <li>swain —  I keep her as a vessel of the law's fury;</li>
  <li class="number">and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring</li>
  <li>her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted</li>
  <li>and heart-burning heat of duty.</li>
  <li>DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This is not so well as I looked for, but the best</li>
  <li class="number">that ever I heard.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say</li>
  <li>you to this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Sir, I confess the wench.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Did you hear the proclamation?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">I do confess much of the hearing it but little of</li>
  <li>the marking of it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken</li>
  <li>with a wench.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Well, it was proclaimed 'damsel.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>It is so varied, too; for it was proclaimed 'virgin.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>This maid will not serve your turn, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">This maid will serve my turn, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast</li>
  <li>a week with bran and water.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>And Don Armado shall be your keeper.</li>
  <li class="number">My Lord Biron, see him deliver'd o'er:</li>
  <li>And go we, lords, to put in practise that</li>
  <li>Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt FERDINAND, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I'll lay my head to any good man's hat,</li>
  <li>These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.</li>
  <li class="number">Sirrah, come on.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was</li>
  <li>taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true</li>
  <li>girl; and therefore welcome the sour cup of</li>
  <li>prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again; and</li>
  <li class="number">till then, sit thee down, sorrow!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO and MOTH</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit</li>
  <li>grows melancholy?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">No, no; O Lord, sir, no.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my</li>
  <li>tender juvenal?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Why tough senior? why tough senior?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton</li>
  <li>appertaining to thy young days, which we may</li>
  <li>nominate tender.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your</li>
  <li class="number">old time, which we may name tough.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Pretty and apt.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or</li>
  <li>I apt, and my saying pretty?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Thou pretty, because little.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>And therefore apt, because quick.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Speak you this in my praise, master?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>In thy condign praise.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>I will praise an eel with the same praise.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">What, that an eel is ingenious?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>That an eel is quick.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>I am answered, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I love not to be crossed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Aside  He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I have promised to study three years with the duke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>You may do it in an hour, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Impossible.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>How many is one thrice told?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I confess both: they are both the varnish of a</li>
  <li>complete man.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of</li>
  <li class="number">deuce-ace amounts to.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>It doth amount to one more than two.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Which the base vulgar do call three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>True.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here</li>
  <li class="number">is three studied, ere ye'll thrice wink: and how</li>
  <li>easy it is to put 'years' to the word 'three,' and</li>
  <li>study three years in two words, the dancing horse</li>
  <li>will tell you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>A most fine figure!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">To prove you a cipher.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is</li>
  <li>base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a</li>
  <li>base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour</li>
  <li>of affection would deliver me from the reprobate</li>
  <li class="number">thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and</li>
  <li>ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised</li>
  <li>courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should</li>
  <li>outswear Cupid. Comfort, me, boy: what great men</li>
  <li>have been in love?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Hercules, master.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name</li>
  <li>more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good</li>
  <li>repute and carriage.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great</li>
  <li class="number">carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back</li>
  <li>like a porter: and he was in love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do</li>
  <li>excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in</li>
  <li>carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's</li>
  <li class="number">love, my dear Moth?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>A woman, master.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Of what complexion?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Tell me precisely of what complexion.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Of the sea-water green, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Is that one of the four complexions?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Green indeed is the colour of lovers; but to have a</li>
  <li>love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason</li>
  <li class="number">for it. He surely affected her for her wit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>My love is most immaculate white and red.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under</li>
  <li>such colours.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">Define, define, well-educated infant.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>My father's wit and my mother's tongue, assist me!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and</li>
  <li>pathetical!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>If she be made of white and red,</li>
  <li class="number">Her faults will ne'er be known,</li>
  <li>For blushing cheeks by faults are bred</li>
  <li>And fears by pale white shown:</li>
  <li>Then if she fear, or be to blame,</li>
  <li>By this you shall not know,</li>
  <li class="number">For still her cheeks possess the same</li>
  <li>Which native she doth owe.</li>
  <li>A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of</li>
  <li>white and red.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">The world was very guilty of such a ballad some</li>
  <li>three ages since: but I think now 'tis not to be</li>
  <li>found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for</li>
  <li>the writing nor the tune.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may</li>
  <li class="number">example my digression by some mighty precedent.</li>
  <li>Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the</li>
  <li>park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Aside  To be whipped; and yet a better love than</li>
  <li>my master.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I say, sing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Forbear till this company be past.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard</li>
  <li class="number">safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight</li>
  <li>nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week.</li>
  <li>For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she</li>
  <li>is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I do betray myself with blushing. Maid!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li class="number">Man?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I will visit thee at the lodge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>That's hereby.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I know where it is situate.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>Lord, how wise you are!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">I will tell thee wonders.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>With that face?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I love thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>So I heard you say.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>And so, farewell.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li class="number">Fair weather after you!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>Come, Jaquenetta, away!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou</li>
  <li>be pardoned.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a</li>
  <li class="number">full stomach.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Thou shalt be heavily punished.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they</li>
  <li>are but lightly rewarded.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Take away this villain; shut him up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Come, you transgressing slave; away!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation</li>
  <li>that I have seen, some shall see.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">What shall some see?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon.</li>
  <li>It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their</li>
  <li>words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank</li>
  <li>God I have as little patience as another man; and</li>
  <li class="number">therefore I can be quiet.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I do affect the very ground, which is base, where</li>
  <li>her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which</li>
  <li>is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which</li>
  <li>is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And</li>
  <li class="number">how can that be true love which is falsely</li>
  <li>attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil:</li>
  <li>there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so</li>
  <li>tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was</li>
  <li>Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.</li>
  <li class="number">Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club;</li>
  <li>and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.</li>
  <li>The first and second cause will not serve my turn;</li>
  <li>the passado he respects not, the duello he regards</li>
  <li>not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his</li>
  <li class="number">glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust rapier!</li>
  <li>be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea,</li>
  <li>he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme,</li>
  <li>for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit;</li>
  <li>write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT II</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter the PRINCESS of France, ROSALINE, MARIA,
KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits:</li>
  <li>Consider who the king your father sends,</li>
  <li>To whom he sends, and what's his embassy:</li>
  <li>Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,</li>
  <li class="number">To parley with the sole inheritor</li>
  <li>Of all perfections that a man may owe,</li>
  <li>Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight</li>
  <li>Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.</li>
  <li>Be now as prodigal of all dear grace</li>
  <li class="number">As Nature was in making graces dear</li>
  <li>When she did starve the general world beside</li>
  <li>And prodigally gave them all to you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,</li>
  <li>Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:</li>
  <li class="number">Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,</li>
  <li>Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues:</li>
  <li>I am less proud to hear you tell my worth</li>
  <li>Than you much willing to be counted wise</li>
  <li>In spending your wit in the praise of mine.</li>
  <li class="number">But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,</li>
  <li>You are not ignorant, all-telling fame</li>
  <li>Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,</li>
  <li>Till painful study shall outwear three years,</li>
  <li>No woman may approach his silent court:</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore to's seemeth it a needful course,</li>
  <li>Before we enter his forbidden gates,</li>
  <li>To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,</li>
  <li>Bold of your worthiness, we single you</li>
  <li>As our best-moving fair solicitor.</li>
  <li class="number">Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,</li>
  <li>On serious business, craving quick dispatch,</li>
  <li>Importunes personal conference with his grace:</li>
  <li>Haste, signify so much; while we attend,</li>
  <li>Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Proud of employment, willingly I go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exit BOYET</li>
  <li>Who are the votaries, my loving lords,</li>
  <li>That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Lord</li>
  <li>Lord Longaville is one.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Know you the man?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>I know him, madam: at a marriage-feast,</li>
  <li>Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir</li>
  <li>Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized</li>
  <li>In Normandy, saw I this Longaville:</li>
  <li class="number">A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd;</li>
  <li>Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms:</li>
  <li>Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.</li>
  <li>The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,</li>
  <li>If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,</li>
  <li class="number">Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will;</li>
  <li>Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills</li>
  <li>It should none spare that come within his power.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>They say so most that most his humours know.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow.</li>
  <li>Who are the rest?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>The young Dumain, a well-accomplished youth,</li>
  <li>Of all that virtue love for virtue loved:</li>
  <li>Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill;</li>
  <li class="number">For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,</li>
  <li>And shape to win grace though he had no wit.</li>
  <li>I saw him at the Duke Alencon's once;</li>
  <li>And much too little of that good I saw</li>
  <li>Is my report to his great worthiness.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Another of these students at that time</li>
  <li>Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.</li>
  <li>Biron they call him; but a merrier man,</li>
  <li>Within the limit of becoming mirth,</li>
  <li>I never spent an hour's talk withal:</li>
  <li class="number">His eye begets occasion for his wit;</li>
  <li>For every object that the one doth catch</li>
  <li>The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,</li>
  <li>Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,</li>
  <li>Delivers in such apt and gracious words</li>
  <li class="number">That aged ears play truant at his tales</li>
  <li>And younger hearings are quite ravished;</li>
  <li>So sweet and voluble is his discourse.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>God bless my ladies! are they all in love,</li>
  <li>That every one her own hath garnished</li>
  <li class="number">With such bedecking ornaments of praise?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Lord</li>
  <li>Here comes Boyet.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter BOYET</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Now, what admittance, lord?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Navarre had notice of your fair approach;</li>
  <li>And he and his competitors in oath</li>
  <li class="number">Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady,</li>
  <li>Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt:</li>
  <li>He rather means to lodge you in the field,</li>
  <li>Like one that comes here to besiege his court,</li>
  <li>Than seek a dispensation for his oath,</li>
  <li class="number">To let you enter his unpeopled house.</li>
  <li>Here comes Navarre.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter FERDINAND, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and
Attendants</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>'Fair' I give you back again; and 'welcome' I have</li>
  <li>not yet: the roof of this court is too high to be</li>
  <li class="number">yours; and welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>I will be welcome, then: conduct me thither.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Our Lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Why, will shall break it; will and nothing else.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,</li>
  <li>Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.</li>
  <li class="number">I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping:</li>
  <li>Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,</li>
  <li>And sin to break it.</li>
  <li>But pardon me. I am too sudden-bold:</li>
  <li>To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.</li>
  <li class="number">Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,</li>
  <li>And suddenly resolve me in my suit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>You will the sooner, that I were away;</li>
  <li>For you'll prove perjured if you make me stay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I know you did.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>How needless was it then to ask the question!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>You must not be so quick.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Not till it leave the rider in the mire.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>What time o' day?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>The hour that fools should ask.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Now fair befall your mask!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Fair fall the face it covers!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>And send you many lovers!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Amen, so you be none.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Nay, then will I be gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, your father here doth intimate</li>
  <li>The payment of a hundred thousand crowns;</li>
  <li>Being but the one half of an entire sum</li>
  <li>Disbursed by my father in his wars.</li>
  <li>But say that he or we, as neither have,</li>
  <li class="number">Received that sum, yet there remains unpaid</li>
  <li>A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which,</li>
  <li>One part of Aquitaine is bound to us,</li>
  <li>Although not valued to the money's worth.</li>
  <li>If then the king your father will restore</li>
  <li class="number">But that one half which is unsatisfied,</li>
  <li>We will give up our right in Aquitaine,</li>
  <li>And hold fair friendship with his majesty.</li>
  <li>But that, it seems, he little purposeth,</li>
  <li>For here he doth demand to have repaid</li>
  <li class="number">A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands,</li>
  <li>On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,</li>
  <li>To have his title live in Aquitaine;</li>
  <li>Which we much rather had depart withal</li>
  <li>And have the money by our father lent</li>
  <li class="number">Than Aquitaine so gelded as it is.</li>
  <li>Dear Princess, were not his requests so far</li>
  <li>From reason's yielding, your fair self should make</li>
  <li>A yielding 'gainst some reason in my breast</li>
  <li>And go well satisfied to France again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">You do the king my father too much wrong</li>
  <li>And wrong the reputation of your name,</li>
  <li>In so unseeming to confess receipt</li>
  <li>Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>I do protest I never heard of it;</li>
  <li class="number">And if you prove it, I'll repay it back</li>
  <li>Or yield up Aquitaine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>We arrest your word.</li>
  <li>Boyet, you can produce acquittances</li>
  <li>For such a sum from special officers</li>
  <li class="number">Of Charles his father.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Satisfy me so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>So please your grace, the packet is not come</li>
  <li>Where that and other specialties are bound:</li>
  <li>To-morrow you shall have a sight of them.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">It shall suffice me: at which interview</li>
  <li>All liberal reason I will yield unto.</li>
  <li>Meantime receive such welcome at my hand</li>
  <li>As honour without breach of honour may</li>
  <li>Make tender of to thy true worthiness:</li>
  <li class="number">You may not come, fair princess, in my gates;</li>
  <li>But here without you shall be so received</li>
  <li>As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart,</li>
  <li>Though so denied fair harbour in my house.</li>
  <li>Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell:</li>
  <li class="number">To-morrow shall we visit you again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Thy own wish wish I thee in every place!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">I would you heard it groan.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Is the fool sick?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Sick at the heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Alack, let it blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Would that do it good?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">My physic says 'ay.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Will you prick't with your eye?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>No point, with my knife.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Now, God save thy life!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>And yours from long living!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">I cannot stay thanksgiving.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Retiring</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Sir, I pray you, a word: what lady is that same?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>The heir of Alencon, Katharine her name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I beseech you a word: what is she in the white?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Pray you, sir, whose daughter?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Her mother's, I have heard.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">God's blessing on your beard!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Good sir, be not offended.</li>
  <li>She is an heir of Falconbridge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Nay, my choler is ended.</li>
  <li>She is a most sweet lady.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Not unlike, sir, that may be.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit LONGAVILLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>What's her name in the cap?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Rosaline, by good hap.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Is she wedded or no?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>To her will, sir, or so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">You are welcome, sir: adieu.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit BIRON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>That last is Biron, the merry madcap lord:</li>
  <li>Not a word with him but a jest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>And every jest but a word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">It was well done of you to take him at his word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Two hot sheeps, marry.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>And wherefore not ships?</li>
  <li>No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li class="number">You sheep, and I pasture: shall that finish the jest?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>So you grant pasture for me.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Offering to kiss her</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Not so, gentle beast:</li>
  <li>My lips are no common, though several they be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Belonging to whom?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li class="number">To my fortunes and me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree:</li>
  <li>This civil war of wits were much better used</li>
  <li>On Navarre and his book-men; for here 'tis abused.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>If my observation, which very seldom lies,</li>
  <li class="number">By the heart's still rhetoric disclosed with eyes,</li>
  <li>Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>With what?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>With that which we lovers entitle affected.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Your reason?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Why, all his behaviors did make their retire</li>
  <li>To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire:</li>
  <li>His heart, like an agate, with your print impress'd,</li>
  <li>Proud with his form, in his eye pride express'd:</li>
  <li>His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,</li>
  <li class="number">Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;</li>
  <li>All senses to that sense did make their repair,</li>
  <li>To feel only looking on fairest of fair:</li>
  <li>Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eye,</li>
  <li>As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy;</li>
  <li class="number">Who, tendering their own worth from where they were glass'd,</li>
  <li>Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd:</li>
  <li>His face's own margent did quote such amazes</li>
  <li>That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.</li>
  <li>I'll give you Aquitaine and all that is his,</li>
  <li class="number">An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Come to our pavilion: Boyet is disposed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>But to speak that in words which his eye hath</li>
  <li>disclosed.</li>
  <li>I only have made a mouth of his eye,</li>
  <li class="number">By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Thou art an old love-monger and speakest skilfully.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>He is Cupid's grandfather and learns news of him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Then was Venus like her mother, for her father is but grim.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Do you hear, my mad wenches?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li class="number">No.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>What then, do you see?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Ay, our way to be gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>You are too hard for me.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT III</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO and MOTH</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Concolinel.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Singing</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet air! Go, tenderness of years; take this key,</li>
  <li>give enlargement to the swain, bring him festinately</li>
  <li class="number">hither: I must employ him in a letter to my love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Master, will you win your love with a French brawl?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>How meanest thou? brawling in French?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>No, my complete master: but to jig off a tune at</li>
  <li>the tongue's end, canary to it with your feet, humour</li>
  <li class="number">it with turning up your eyelids, sigh a note and</li>
  <li>sing a note, sometime through the throat, as if you</li>
  <li>swallowed love with singing love, sometime through</li>
  <li>the nose, as if you snuffed up love by smelling</li>
  <li>love; with your hat penthouse-like o'er the shop of</li>
  <li class="number">your eyes; with your arms crossed on your thin-belly</li>
  <li>doublet like a rabbit on a spit; or your hands in</li>
  <li>your pocket like a man after the old painting; and</li>
  <li>keep not too long in one tune, but a snip and away.</li>
  <li>These are complements, these are humours; these</li>
  <li class="number">betray nice wenches, that would be betrayed without</li>
  <li>these; and make them men of note — do you note</li>
  <li>me? — that most are affected to these.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>How hast thou purchased this experience?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>By my penny of observation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">But O —  but O —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>'The hobby-horse is forgot.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Callest thou my love 'hobby-horse'?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>No, master; the hobby-horse is but a colt, and your</li>
  <li>love perhaps a hackney. But have you forgot your love?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">Almost I had.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Negligent student! learn her by heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>By heart and in heart, boy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>And out of heart, master: all those three I will prove.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>What wilt thou prove?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">A man, if I live; and this, by, in, and without, upon</li>
  <li>the instant: by heart you love her, because your</li>
  <li>heart cannot come by her; in heart you love her,</li>
  <li>because your heart is in love with her; and out of</li>
  <li>heart you love her, being out of heart that you</li>
  <li class="number">cannot enjoy her.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I am all these three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>And three times as much more, and yet nothing at</li>
  <li>all.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Fetch hither the swain: he must carry me a letter.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">A message well sympathized; a horse to be ambassador</li>
  <li>for an ass.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Ha, ha! what sayest thou?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Marry, sir, you must send the ass upon the horse,</li>
  <li>for he is very slow-gaited. But I go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">The way is but short: away!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>As swift as lead, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>The meaning, pretty ingenious?</li>
  <li>Is not lead a metal heavy, dull, and slow?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Minime, honest master; or rather, master, no.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">I say lead is slow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>You are too swift, sir, to say so:</li>
  <li>Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet smoke of rhetoric!</li>
  <li>He reputes me a cannon; and the bullet, that's he:</li>
  <li class="number">I shoot thee at the swain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Thump then and I flee.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>A most acute juvenal; voluble and free of grace!</li>
  <li>By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face:</li>
  <li>Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place.</li>
  <li class="number">My herald is return'd.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter MOTH with COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>A wonder, master! here's a costard broken in a shin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l'envoy; begin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>No enigma, no riddle, no l'envoy; no salve in the</li>
  <li>mail, sir: O, sir, plantain, a plain plantain! no</li>
  <li class="number">l'envoy, no l'envoy; no salve, sir, but a plantain!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>By virtue, thou enforcest laughter; thy silly</li>
  <li>thought my spleen; the heaving of my lungs provokes</li>
  <li>me to ridiculous smiling. O, pardon me, my stars!</li>
  <li>Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l'envoy, and</li>
  <li class="number">the word l'envoy for a salve?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Do the wise think them other? is not l'envoy a salve?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>No, page: it is an epilogue or discourse, to make plain</li>
  <li>Some obscure precedence that hath tofore been sain.</li>
  <li>I will example it:</li>
  <li class="number">The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee,</li>
  <li>Were still at odds, being but three.</li>
  <li>There's the moral. Now the l'envoy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>I will add the l'envoy. Say the moral again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee,</li>
  <li class="number">Were still at odds, being but three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Until the goose came out of door,</li>
  <li>And stay'd the odds by adding four.</li>
  <li>Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow with</li>
  <li>my l'envoy.</li>
  <li class="number">The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee,</li>
  <li>Were still at odds, being but three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Until the goose came out of door,</li>
  <li>Staying the odds by adding four.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>A good l'envoy, ending in the goose: would you</li>
  <li class="number">desire more?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>The boy hath sold him a bargain, a goose, that's flat.</li>
  <li>Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be fat.</li>
  <li>To sell a bargain well is as cunning as fast and loose:</li>
  <li>Let me see; a fat l'envoy; ay, that's a fat goose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">Come hither, come hither. How did this argument begin?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>By saying that a costard was broken in a shin.</li>
  <li>Then call'd you for the l'envoy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>True, and I for a plantain: thus came your</li>
  <li>argument in;</li>
  <li class="number">Then the boy's fat l'envoy, the goose that you bought;</li>
  <li>And he ended the market.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>But tell me; how was there a costard broken in a shin?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>I will tell you sensibly.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Thou hast no feeling of it, Moth: I will speak that l'envoy:</li>
  <li class="number">I Costard, running out, that was safely within,</li>
  <li>Fell over the threshold and broke my shin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>We will talk no more of this matter.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Till there be more matter in the shin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sirrah Costard, I will enfranchise thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">O, marry me to one Frances: I smell some l'envoy,</li>
  <li>some goose, in this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>By my sweet soul, I mean setting thee at liberty,</li>
  <li>enfreedoming thy person; thou wert immured,</li>
  <li>restrained, captivated, bound.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">True, true; and now you will be my purgation and let me loose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and,</li>
  <li>in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this:</li>
  <li>bear this significant</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Giving a letter</li>
  <li>to the country maid Jaquenetta:</li>
  <li class="number">there is remuneration; for the best ward of mine</li>
  <li>honour is rewarding my dependents. Moth, follow.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Like the sequel, I. Signior Costard, adieu.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>My sweet ounce of man's flesh! my incony Jew!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exit MOTH</li>
  <li>Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration!</li>
  <li class="number">O, that's the Latin word for three farthings: three</li>
  <li>farthings — remuneration. — 'What's the price of this</li>
  <li>inkle?' — 'One penny.' — 'No, I'll give you a</li>
  <li>remuneration:' why, it carries it. Remuneration!</li>
  <li>why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will</li>
  <li class="number">never buy and sell out of this word.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter BIRON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>O, my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Pray you, sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man</li>
  <li>buy for a remuneration?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>What is a remuneration?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">Marry, sir, halfpenny farthing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Why, then, three-farthing worth of silk.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I thank your worship: God be wi' you!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Stay, slave; I must employ thee:</li>
  <li>As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave,</li>
  <li class="number">Do one thing for me that I shall entreat.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>When would you have it done, sir?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This afternoon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Well, I will do it, sir: fare you well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Thou knowest not what it is.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">I shall know, sir, when I have done it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Why, villain, thou must know first.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I will come to your worship to-morrow morning.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>It must be done this afternoon.</li>
  <li>Hark, slave, it is but this:</li>
  <li class="number">The princess comes to hunt here in the park,</li>
  <li>And in her train there is a gentle lady;</li>
  <li>When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her name,</li>
  <li>And Rosaline they call her: ask for her;</li>
  <li>And to her white hand see thou do commend</li>
  <li class="number">This seal'd-up counsel. There's thy guerdon; go.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Giving him a shilling</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Gardon, O sweet gardon! better than remuneration,</li>
  <li>a'leven-pence farthing better: most sweet gardon! I</li>
  <li>will do it sir, in print. Gardon! Remuneration!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love's whip;</li>
  <li class="number">A very beadle to a humorous sigh;</li>
  <li>A critic, nay, a night-watch constable;</li>
  <li>A domineering pedant o'er the boy;</li>
  <li>Than whom no mortal so magnificent!</li>
  <li>This whimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy;</li>
  <li class="number">This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid;</li>
  <li>Regent of love-rhymes, lord of folded arms,</li>
  <li>The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans,</li>
  <li>Liege of all loiterers and malcontents,</li>
  <li>Dread prince of plackets, king of codpieces,</li>
  <li class="number">Sole imperator and great general</li>
  <li>Of trotting 'paritors: — O my little heart: — </li>
  <li>And I to be a corporal of his field,</li>
  <li>And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop!</li>
  <li>What, I! I love! I sue! I seek a wife!</li>
  <li class="number">A woman, that is like a German clock,</li>
  <li>Still a-repairing, ever out of frame,</li>
  <li>And never going aright, being a watch,</li>
  <li>But being watch'd that it may still go right!</li>
  <li>Nay, to be perjured, which is worst of all;</li>
  <li class="number">And, among three, to love the worst of all;</li>
  <li>A wightly wanton with a velvet brow,</li>
  <li>With two pitch-balls stuck in her face for eyes;</li>
  <li>Ay, and by heaven, one that will do the deed</li>
  <li>Though Argus were her eunuch and her guard:</li>
  <li class="number">And I to sigh for her! to watch for her!</li>
  <li>To pray for her! Go to; it is a plague</li>
  <li>That Cupid will impose for my neglect</li>
  <li>Of his almighty dreadful little might.</li>
  <li>Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue and groan:</li>
  <li class="number">Some men must love my lady and some Joan.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT IV</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter the PRINCESS, and her train, a Forester,
BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHARINE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Was that the king, that spurred his horse so hard</li>
  <li>Against the steep uprising of the hill?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I know not; but I think it was not he.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Whoe'er a' was, a' show'd a mounting mind.</li>
  <li class="number">Well, lords, to-day we shall have our dispatch:</li>
  <li>On Saturday we will return to France.</li>
  <li>Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush</li>
  <li>That we must stand and play the murderer in?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Forester</li>
  <li>Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice;</li>
  <li class="number">A stand where you may make the fairest shoot.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot,</li>
  <li>And thereupon thou speak'st the fairest shoot.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Forester</li>
  <li>Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>What, what? first praise me and again say no?</li>
  <li class="number">O short-lived pride! Not fair? alack for woe!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Forester</li>
  <li>Yes, madam, fair.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Nay, never paint me now:</li>
  <li>Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow.</li>
  <li>Here, good my glass, take this for telling true:</li>
  <li class="number">Fair payment for foul words is more than due.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Forester</li>
  <li>Nothing but fair is that which you inherit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>See see, my beauty will be saved by merit!</li>
  <li>O heresy in fair, fit for these days!</li>
  <li>A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise.</li>
  <li class="number">But come, the bow: now mercy goes to kill,</li>
  <li>And shooting well is then accounted ill.</li>
  <li>Thus will I save my credit in the shoot:</li>
  <li>Not wounding, pity would not let me do't;</li>
  <li>If wounding, then it was to show my skill,</li>
  <li class="number">That more for praise than purpose meant to kill.</li>
  <li>And out of question so it is sometimes,</li>
  <li>Glory grows guilty of detested crimes,</li>
  <li>When, for fame's sake, for praise, an outward part,</li>
  <li>We bend to that the working of the heart;</li>
  <li class="number">As I for praise alone now seek to spill</li>
  <li>The poor deer's blood, that my heart means no ill.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty</li>
  <li>Only for praise sake, when they strive to be</li>
  <li>Lords o'er their lords?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Only for praise: and praise we may afford</li>
  <li>To any lady that subdues a lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Here comes a member of the commonwealth.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">Which is the greatest lady, the highest?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>The thickest and the tallest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>The thickest and the tallest! it is so; truth is truth.</li>
  <li>An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit,</li>
  <li>One o' these maids' girdles for your waist should be fit.</li>
  <li class="number">Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>What's your will, sir? what's your will?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Lady Rosaline.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>O, thy letter, thy letter! he's a good friend of mine:</li>
  <li>Stand aside, good bearer. Boyet, you can carve;</li>
  <li class="number">Break up this capon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I am bound to serve.</li>
  <li>This letter is mistook, it importeth none here;</li>
  <li>It is writ to Jaquenetta.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>We will read it, I swear.</li>
  <li class="number">Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Reads</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>'By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible;</li>
  <li>true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that</li>
  <li>thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful</li>
  <li>than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have</li>
  <li class="number">commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The</li>
  <li>magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua set</li>
  <li>eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar</li>
  <li>Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say,</li>
  <li>Veni, vidi, vici; which to annothanize in the</li>
  <li class="number">vulgar —  O base and obscure vulgar! — videlicet, He</li>
  <li>came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw two;</li>
  <li>overcame, three. Who came? the king: why did he</li>
  <li>come? to see: why did he see? to overcome: to</li>
  <li>whom came he? to the beggar: what saw he? the</li>
  <li class="number">beggar: who overcame he? the beggar. The</li>
  <li>conclusion is victory: on whose side? the king's.</li>
  <li>The captive is enriched: on whose side? the</li>
  <li>beggar's. The catastrophe is a nuptial: on whose</li>
  <li>side? the king's: no, on both in one, or one in</li>
  <li class="number">both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison:</li>
  <li>thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness.</li>
  <li>Shall I command thy love? I may: shall I enforce</li>
  <li>thy love? I could: shall I entreat thy love? I</li>
  <li>will. What shalt thou exchange for rags? robes;</li>
  <li class="number">for tittles? titles; for thyself? me. Thus,</li>
  <li>expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot,</li>
  <li>my eyes on thy picture. and my heart on thy every</li>
  <li>part. Thine, in the dearest design of industry,</li>
  <li>DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.'</li>
  <li class="number">Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar</li>
  <li>'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey.</li>
  <li>Submissive fall his princely feet before,</li>
  <li>And he from forage will incline to play:</li>
  <li>But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then?</li>
  <li class="number">Food for his rage, repasture for his den.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter?</li>
  <li>What vane? what weathercock? did you ever hear better?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I am much deceived but I remember the style.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Else your memory is bad, going o'er it erewhile.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here in court;</li>
  <li>A phantasime, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport</li>
  <li>To the prince and his bookmates.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Thou fellow, a word:</li>
  <li>Who gave thee this letter?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">I told you; my lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>To whom shouldst thou give it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>From my lord to my lady.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>From which lord to which lady?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>From my lord Biron, a good master of mine,</li>
  <li class="number">To a lady of France that he call'd Rosaline.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords, away.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Here, sweet, put up this: 'twill be thine another day.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt PRINCESS and train</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Who is the suitor? who is the suitor?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Shall I teach you to know?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Ay, my continent of beauty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Why, she that bears the bow.</li>
  <li>Finely put off!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou marry,</li>
  <li>Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry.</li>
  <li class="number">Finely put on!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Well, then, I am the shooter.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>And who is your deer?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>If we choose by the horns, yourself come not near.</li>
  <li>Finely put on, indeed!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li class="number">You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes</li>
  <li>at the brow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>But she herself is hit lower: have I hit her now?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that was</li>
  <li>a man when King Pepin of France was a little boy, as</li>
  <li class="number">touching the hit it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>So I may answer thee with one as old, that was a</li>
  <li>woman when Queen Guinover of Britain was a little</li>
  <li>wench, as touching the hit it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Thou canst not hit it, hit it, hit it,</li>
  <li class="number">Thou canst not hit it, my good man.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>An I cannot, cannot, cannot,</li>
  <li>An I cannot, another can.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt ROSALINE and KATHARINE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>By my troth, most pleasant: how both did fit it!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>A mark marvellous well shot, for they both did hit it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">A mark! O, mark but that mark! A mark, says my lady!</li>
  <li>Let the mark have a prick in't, to mete at, if it may be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Wide o' the bow hand! i' faith, your hand is out.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Indeed, a' must shoot nearer, or he'll ne'er hit the clout.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Come, come, you talk greasily; your lips grow foul.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>She's too hard for you at pricks, sir: challenge her to bowl.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt BOYET and MARIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>By my soul, a swain! a most simple clown!</li>
  <li class="number">Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down!</li>
  <li>O' my troth, most sweet jests! most incony</li>
  <li>vulgar wit!</li>
  <li>When it comes so smoothly off, so obscenely, as it</li>
  <li>were, so fit.</li>
  <li class="number">Armado o' th' one side —  O, a most dainty man!</li>
  <li>To see him walk before a lady and to bear her fan!</li>
  <li>To see him kiss his hand! and how most sweetly a'</li>
  <li>will swear!</li>
  <li>And his page o' t' other side, that handful of wit!</li>
  <li class="number">Ah, heavens, it is a most pathetical nit!</li>
  <li>Sola, sola!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Shout within</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit COSTARD, running</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HOLOFERNES, SIR NATHANIEL, and DULL</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the testimony</li>
  <li>of a good conscience.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood; ripe</li>
  <li>as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in</li>
  <li class="number">the ear of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven;</li>
  <li>and anon falleth like a crab on the face of terra,</li>
  <li>the soil, the land, the earth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly</li>
  <li>varied, like a scholar at the least: but, sir, I</li>
  <li class="number">assure ye, it was a buck of the first head.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Sir Nathaniel, haud credo.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>'Twas not a haud credo; 'twas a pricket.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Most barbarous intimation! yet a kind of</li>
  <li>insinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of</li>
  <li class="number">explication; facere, as it were, replication, or</li>
  <li>rather, ostentare, to show, as it were, his</li>
  <li>inclination, after his undressed, unpolished,</li>
  <li>uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather,</li>
  <li>unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to</li>
  <li class="number">insert again my haud credo for a deer.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>I said the deer was not a haud credo; twas a pricket.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Twice-sod simplicity, his coctus!</li>
  <li>O thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred</li>
  <li class="number">in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he</li>
  <li>hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not</li>
  <li>replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in</li>
  <li>the duller parts:</li>
  <li>And such barren plants are set before us, that we</li>
  <li class="number">thankful should be,</li>
  <li>Which we of taste and feeling are, for those parts that</li>
  <li>do fructify in us more than he.</li>
  <li>For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool,</li>
  <li>So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school:</li>
  <li class="number">But omne bene, say I; being of an old father's mind,</li>
  <li>Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>You two are book-men: can you tell me by your wit</li>
  <li>What was a month old at Cain's birth, that's not five</li>
  <li>weeks old as yet?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">Dictynna, goodman Dull; Dictynna, goodman Dull.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>What is Dictynna?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>The moon was a month old when Adam was no more,</li>
  <li>And raught not to five weeks when he came to</li>
  <li class="number">five-score.</li>
  <li>The allusion holds in the exchange.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>'Tis true indeed; the collusion holds in the exchange.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>God comfort thy capacity! I say, the allusion holds</li>
  <li>in the exchange.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li class="number">And I say, the pollusion holds in the exchange; for</li>
  <li>the moon is never but a month old: and I say beside</li>
  <li>that, 'twas a pricket that the princess killed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph</li>
  <li>on the death of the deer? And, to humour the</li>
  <li class="number">ignorant, call I the deer the princess killed a pricket.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge; so it shall</li>
  <li>please you to abrogate scurrility.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.</li>
  <li>The preyful princess pierced and prick'd a pretty</li>
  <li class="number">pleasing pricket;</li>
  <li>Some say a sore; but not a sore, till now made</li>
  <li>sore with shooting.</li>
  <li>The dogs did yell: put L to sore, then sorel jumps</li>
  <li>from thicket;</li>
  <li class="number">Or pricket sore, or else sorel; the people fall a-hooting.</li>
  <li>If sore be sore, then L to sore makes fifty sores</li>
  <li>one sorel.</li>
  <li>Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>A rare talent!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li class="number">Aside  If a talent be a claw, look how he claws</li>
  <li>him with a talent.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a</li>
  <li>foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures,</li>
  <li>shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions,</li>
  <li class="number">revolutions: these are begot in the ventricle of</li>
  <li>memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and</li>
  <li>delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the</li>
  <li>gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am</li>
  <li>thankful for it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li class="number">Sir, I praise the Lord for you; and so may my</li>
  <li>parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by</li>
  <li>you, and their daughters profit very greatly under</li>
  <li>you: you are a good member of the commonwealth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Mehercle, if their sons be ingenuous, they shall</li>
  <li class="number">want no instruction; if their daughters be capable,</li>
  <li>I will put it to them: but vir sapit qui pauca</li>
  <li>loquitur; a soul feminine saluteth us.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>God give you good morrow, master Parson.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Master Parson, quasi pers-on. An if one should be</li>
  <li class="number">pierced, which is the one?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Piercing a hogshead! a good lustre of conceit in a</li>
  <li>tuft of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough</li>
  <li>for a swine: 'tis pretty; it is well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li class="number">Good master Parson, be so good as read me this</li>
  <li>letter: it was given me by Costard, and sent me</li>
  <li>from Don Armado: I beseech you, read it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra</li>
  <li>Ruminat —  and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan! I</li>
  <li class="number">may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice;</li>
  <li>Venetia, Venetia,</li>
  <li>Chi non ti vede non ti pretia.</li>
  <li>Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! who understandeth thee</li>
  <li>not, loves thee not. Ut, re, sol, la, mi, fa.</li>
  <li class="number">Under pardon, sir, what are the contents? or rather,</li>
  <li>as Horace says in his — What, my soul, verses?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Ay, sir, and very learned.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse; lege, domine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Reads</li>
  <li class="number">If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?</li>
  <li>Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow'd!</li>
  <li>Though to myself forsworn, to thee I'll faithful prove:</li>
  <li>Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like</li>
  <li>osiers bow'd.</li>
  <li class="number">Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes,</li>
  <li>Where all those pleasures live that art would</li>
  <li>comprehend:</li>
  <li>If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice;</li>
  <li>Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend,</li>
  <li class="number">All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder;</li>
  <li>Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire:</li>
  <li>Thy eye Jove's lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder,</li>
  <li>Which not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire.</li>
  <li>Celestial as thou art, O, pardon, love, this wrong,</li>
  <li class="number">That sings heaven's praise with such an earthly tongue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>You find not the apostraphas, and so miss the</li>
  <li>accent: let me supervise the canzonet. Here are</li>
  <li>only numbers ratified; but, for the elegancy,</li>
  <li>facility, and golden cadence of poesy, caret.</li>
  <li class="number">Ovidius Naso was the man: and why, indeed, Naso,</li>
  <li>but for smelling out the odouriferous flowers of</li>
  <li>fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari is nothing:</li>
  <li>so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper,</li>
  <li>the tired horse his rider. But, damosella virgin,</li>
  <li class="number">was this directed to you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Biron, one of the strange</li>
  <li>queen's lords.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I will overglance the superscript: 'To the</li>
  <li>snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady</li>
  <li class="number">Rosaline.' I will look again on the intellect of</li>
  <li>the letter, for the nomination of the party writing</li>
  <li>to the person written unto: 'Your ladyship's in all</li>
  <li>desired employment, BIRON.' Sir Nathaniel, this</li>
  <li>Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here</li>
  <li class="number">he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger</li>
  <li>queen's, which accidentally, or by the way of</li>
  <li>progression, hath miscarried. Trip and go, my</li>
  <li>sweet; deliver this paper into the royal hand of the</li>
  <li>king: it may concern much. Stay not thy</li>
  <li class="number">compliment; I forgive thy duty; adieu.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Have with thee, my girl.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt COSTARD and JAQUENETTA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very</li>
  <li>religiously; and, as a certain father saith —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">Sir tell me not of the father; I do fear colourable</li>
  <li>colours. But to return to the verses: did they</li>
  <li>please you, Sir Nathaniel?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Marvellous well for the pen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I do dine to-day at the father's of a certain pupil</li>
  <li class="number">of mine; where, if, before repast, it shall please</li>
  <li>you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my</li>
  <li>privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid</li>
  <li>child or pupil, undertake your ben venuto; where I</li>
  <li>will prove those verses to be very unlearned,</li>
  <li class="number">neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention: I</li>
  <li>beseech your society.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is</li>
  <li>the happiness of life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes it.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To DULL</li>
  <li class="number">Sir, I do invite you too; you shall not</li>
  <li>say me nay: pauca verba. Away! the gentles are at</li>
  <li>their game, and we will to our recreation.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter BIRON, with a paper</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>The king he is hunting the deer; I am coursing</li>
  <li>myself: they have pitched a toil; I am toiling in</li>
  <li>a pitch —  pitch that defiles: defile! a foul</li>
  <li>word. Well, set thee down, sorrow! for so they say</li>
  <li class="number">the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool: well</li>
  <li>proved, wit! By the Lord, this love is as mad as</li>
  <li>Ajax: it kills sheep; it kills me, I a sheep:</li>
  <li>well proved again o' my side! I will not love: if</li>
  <li>I do, hang me; i' faith, I will not. O, but her</li>
  <li class="number">eye —  by this light, but for her eye, I would not</li>
  <li>love her; yes, for her two eyes. Well, I do nothing</li>
  <li>in the world but lie, and lie in my throat. By</li>
  <li>heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme</li>
  <li>and to be melancholy; and here is part of my rhyme,</li>
  <li class="number">and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one o' my</li>
  <li>sonnets already: the clown bore it, the fool sent</li>
  <li>it, and the lady hath it: sweet clown, sweeter</li>
  <li>fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I would not care</li>
  <li>a pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one</li>
  <li class="number">with a paper: God give him grace to groan!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Stands aside</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter FERDINAND, with a paper</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Ay me!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Aside  Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid:</li>
  <li>thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the</li>
  <li>left pap. In faith, secrets!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Reads</li>
  <li>So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not</li>
  <li>To those fresh morning drops upon the rose,</li>
  <li>As thy eye-beams, when their fresh rays have smote</li>
  <li>The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows:</li>
  <li class="number">Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright</li>
  <li>Through the transparent bosom of the deep,</li>
  <li>As doth thy face through tears of mine give light;</li>
  <li>Thou shinest in every tear that I do weep:</li>
  <li>No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;</li>
  <li class="number">So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.</li>
  <li>Do but behold the tears that swell in me,</li>
  <li>And they thy glory through my grief will show:</li>
  <li>But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep</li>
  <li>My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.</li>
  <li class="number">O queen of queens! how far dost thou excel,</li>
  <li>No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.</li>
  <li>How shall she know my griefs? I'll drop the paper:</li>
  <li>Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here?</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Steps aside</li>
  <li>What, Longaville! and reading! listen, ear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LONGAVILLE, with a paper</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Ay me, I am forsworn!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>In love, I hope: sweet fellowship in shame!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>One drunkard loves another of the name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">Am I the first that have been perjured so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I could put thee in comfort. Not by two that I know:</li>
  <li>Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of society,</li>
  <li>The shape of Love's Tyburn that hangs up simplicity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move:</li>
  <li class="number">O sweet Maria, empress of my love!</li>
  <li>These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid's hose:</li>
  <li>Disfigure not his slop.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>This same shall go.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Reads</li>
  <li class="number">Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,</li>
  <li>'Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,</li>
  <li>Persuade my heart to this false perjury?</li>
  <li>Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.</li>
  <li>A woman I forswore; but I will prove,</li>
  <li class="number">Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee:</li>
  <li>My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love;</li>
  <li>Thy grace being gain'd cures all disgrace in me.</li>
  <li>Vows are but breath, and breath a vapour is:</li>
  <li>Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost shine,</li>
  <li class="number">Exhalest this vapour-vow; in thee it is:</li>
  <li>If broken then, it is no fault of mine:</li>
  <li>If by me broke, what fool is not so wise</li>
  <li>To lose an oath to win a paradise?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This is the liver-vein, which makes flesh a deity,</li>
  <li class="number">A green goose a goddess: pure, pure idolatry.</li>
  <li>God amend us, God amend! we are much out o' the way.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>By whom shall I send this? — Company! stay.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Steps aside</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>All hid, all hid; an old infant play.</li>
  <li>Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.</li>
  <li class="number">And wretched fools' secrets heedfully o'ereye.</li>
  <li>More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter DUMAIN, with a paper</li>
  <li>Dumain transform'd! four woodcocks in a dish!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>O most divine Kate!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>O most profane coxcomb!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>By earth, she is not, corporal, there you lie.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Her amber hair for foul hath amber quoted.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>An amber-colour'd raven was well noted.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>As upright as the cedar.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Stoop, I say;</li>
  <li>Her shoulder is with child.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>As fair as day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>O that I had my wish!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">And I had mine!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>And I mine too, good Lord!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>I would forget her; but a fever she</li>
  <li>Reigns in my blood and will remember'd be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">A fever in your blood! why, then incision</li>
  <li>Would let her out in saucers: sweet misprision!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Once more I'll read the ode that I have writ.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Once more I'll mark how love can vary wit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Reads</li>
  <li class="number">On a day — alack the day! — </li>
  <li>Love, whose month is ever May,</li>
  <li>Spied a blossom passing fair</li>
  <li>Playing in the wanton air:</li>
  <li>Through the velvet leaves the wind,</li>
  <li class="number">All unseen, can passage find;</li>
  <li>That the lover, sick to death,</li>
  <li>Wish himself the heaven's breath.</li>
  <li>Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow;</li>
  <li>Air, would I might triumph so!</li>
  <li class="number">But, alack, my hand is sworn</li>
  <li>Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn;</li>
  <li>Vow, alack, for youth unmeet,</li>
  <li>Youth so apt to pluck a sweet!</li>
  <li>Do not call it sin in me,</li>
  <li class="number">That I am forsworn for thee;</li>
  <li>Thou for whom Jove would swear</li>
  <li>Juno but an Ethiope were;</li>
  <li>And deny himself for Jove,</li>
  <li>Turning mortal for thy love.</li>
  <li class="number">This will I send, and something else more plain,</li>
  <li>That shall express my true love's fasting pain.</li>
  <li>O, would the king, Biron, and Longaville,</li>
  <li>Were lovers too! Ill, to example ill,</li>
  <li>Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note;</li>
  <li class="number">For none offend where all alike do dote.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Advancing  Dumain, thy love is far from charity.</li>
  <li>You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,</li>
  <li>To be o'erheard and taken napping so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Advancing  Come, sir, you blush; as his your case is such;</li>
  <li class="number">You chide at him, offending twice as much;</li>
  <li>You do not love Maria; Longaville</li>
  <li>Did never sonnet for her sake compile,</li>
  <li>Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart</li>
  <li>His loving bosom to keep down his heart.</li>
  <li class="number">I have been closely shrouded in this bush</li>
  <li>And mark'd you both and for you both did blush:</li>
  <li>I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,</li>
  <li>Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion:</li>
  <li>Ay me! says one; O Jove! the other cries;</li>
  <li class="number">One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other's eyes:</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>You would for paradise break faith, and troth;</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To DUMAIN</li>
  <li>And Jove, for your love, would infringe an oath.</li>
  <li>What will Biron say when that he shall hear</li>
  <li>Faith so infringed, which such zeal did swear?</li>
  <li class="number">How will he scorn! how will he spend his wit!</li>
  <li>How will he triumph, leap and laugh at it!</li>
  <li>For all the wealth that ever I did see,</li>
  <li>I would not have him know so much by me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Advancing</li>
  <li class="number">Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me!</li>
  <li>Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove</li>
  <li>These worms for loving, that art most in love?</li>
  <li>Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears</li>
  <li>There is no certain princess that appears;</li>
  <li class="number">You'll not be perjured, 'tis a hateful thing;</li>
  <li>Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!</li>
  <li>But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not,</li>
  <li>All three of you, to be thus much o'ershot?</li>
  <li>You found his mote; the king your mote did see;</li>
  <li class="number">But I a beam do find in each of three.</li>
  <li>O, what a scene of foolery have I seen,</li>
  <li>Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen!</li>
  <li>O me, with what strict patience have I sat,</li>
  <li>To see a king transformed to a gnat!</li>
  <li class="number">To see great Hercules whipping a gig,</li>
  <li>And profound Solomon to tune a jig,</li>
  <li>And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys,</li>
  <li>And critic Timon laugh at idle toys!</li>
  <li>Where lies thy grief, O, tell me, good Dumain?</li>
  <li class="number">And gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?</li>
  <li>And where my liege's? all about the breast:</li>
  <li>A caudle, ho!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Too bitter is thy jest.</li>
  <li>Are we betray'd thus to thy over-view?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Not you to me, but I betray'd by you:</li>
  <li>I, that am honest; I, that hold it sin</li>
  <li>To break the vow I am engaged in;</li>
  <li>I am betray'd, by keeping company</li>
  <li>With men like men of inconstancy.</li>
  <li class="number">When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?</li>
  <li>Or groan for love? or spend a minute's time</li>
  <li>In pruning me? When shall you hear that I</li>
  <li>Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,</li>
  <li>A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,</li>
  <li class="number">A leg, a limb?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Soft! whither away so fast?</li>
  <li>A true man or a thief that gallops so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I post from love: good lover, let me go.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>God bless the king!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">What present hast thou there?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Some certain treason.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>What makes treason here?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Nay, it makes nothing, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>If it mar nothing neither,</li>
  <li class="number">The treason and you go in peace away together.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li>I beseech your grace, let this letter be read:</li>
  <li>Our parson misdoubts it; 'twas treason, he said.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Biron, read it over.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Giving him the paper</li>
  <li>Where hadst thou it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JAQUENETTA</li>
  <li class="number">Of Costard.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Where hadst thou it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">BIRON tears the letter</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>How now! what is in you? why dost thou tear it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>A toy, my liege, a toy: your grace needs not fear it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">It did move him to passion, and therefore let's hear it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>It is Biron's writing, and here is his name.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Gathering up the pieces</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>To COSTARD  Ah, you whoreson loggerhead! you were</li>
  <li>born to do me shame.</li>
  <li>Guilty, my lord, guilty! I confess, I confess.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">What?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>That you three fools lack'd me fool to make up the mess:</li>
  <li>He, he, and you, and you, my liege, and I,</li>
  <li>Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die.</li>
  <li>O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Now the number is even.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>True, true; we are four.</li>
  <li>Will these turtles be gone?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Hence, sirs; away!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt COSTARD and JAQUENETTA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace!</li>
  <li>As true we are as flesh and blood can be:</li>
  <li>The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face;</li>
  <li>Young blood doth not obey an old decree:</li>
  <li>We cannot cross the cause why we were born;</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline,</li>
  <li>That, like a rude and savage man of Inde,</li>
  <li>At the first opening of the gorgeous east,</li>
  <li class="number">Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind</li>
  <li>Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?</li>
  <li>What peremptory eagle-sighted eye</li>
  <li>Dares look upon the heaven of her brow,</li>
  <li>That is not blinded by her majesty?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">What zeal, what fury hath inspired thee now?</li>
  <li>My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon;</li>
  <li>She an attending star, scarce seen a light.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Biron:</li>
  <li>O, but for my love, day would turn to night!</li>
  <li class="number">Of all complexions the cull'd sovereignty</li>
  <li>Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek,</li>
  <li>Where several worthies make one dignity,</li>
  <li>Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.</li>
  <li>Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues —  </li>
  <li class="number">Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not:</li>
  <li>To things of sale a seller's praise belongs,</li>
  <li>She passes praise; then praise too short doth blot.</li>
  <li>A wither'd hermit, five-score winters worn,</li>
  <li>Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye:</li>
  <li class="number">Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born,</li>
  <li>And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy:</li>
  <li>O, 'tis the sun that maketh all things shine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Is ebony like her? O wood divine!</li>
  <li class="number">A wife of such wood were felicity.</li>
  <li>O, who can give an oath? where is a book?</li>
  <li>That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack,</li>
  <li>If that she learn not of her eye to look:</li>
  <li>No face is fair that is not full so black.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">O paradox! Black is the badge of hell,</li>
  <li>The hue of dungeons and the suit of night;</li>
  <li>And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.</li>
  <li>O, if in black my lady's brows be deck'd,</li>
  <li class="number">It mourns that painting and usurping hair</li>
  <li>Should ravish doters with a false aspect;</li>
  <li>And therefore is she born to make black fair.</li>
  <li>Her favour turns the fashion of the days,</li>
  <li>For native blood is counted painting now;</li>
  <li class="number">And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,</li>
  <li>Paints itself black, to imitate her brow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>And since her time are colliers counted bright.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Your mistresses dare never come in rain,</li>
  <li>For fear their colours should be wash'd away.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>'Twere good, yours did; for, sir, to tell you plain,</li>
  <li>I'll find a fairer face not wash'd to-day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">I'll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>No devil will fright thee then so much as she.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Look, here's thy love: my foot and her face see.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes,</li>
  <li class="number">Her feet were much too dainty for such tread!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>O, vile! then, as she goes, what upward lies</li>
  <li>The street should see as she walk'd overhead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>But what of this? are we not all in love?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Then leave this chat; and, good Biron, now prove</li>
  <li>Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Ay, marry, there; some flattery for this evil.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>O, some authority how to proceed;</li>
  <li>Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Some salve for perjury.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>'Tis more than need.</li>
  <li>Have at you, then, affection's men at arms.</li>
  <li>Consider what you first did swear unto,</li>
  <li>To fast, to study, and to see no woman;</li>
  <li class="number">Flat treason 'gainst the kingly state of youth.</li>
  <li>Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young;</li>
  <li>And abstinence engenders maladies.</li>
  <li>And where that you have vow'd to study, lords,</li>
  <li>In that each of you have forsworn his book,</li>
  <li class="number">Can you still dream and pore and thereon look?</li>
  <li>For when would you, my lord, or you, or you,</li>
  <li>Have found the ground of study's excellence</li>
  <li>Without the beauty of a woman's face?</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">From women's eyes this doctrine I derive;
They are the ground, the books, the academes
From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire</li>
  <li>Why, universal plodding poisons up</li>
  <li class="number">The nimble spirits in the arteries,</li>
  <li>As motion and long-during action tires</li>
  <li>The sinewy vigour of the traveller.</li>
  <li>Now, for not looking on a woman's face,</li>
  <li>You have in that forsworn the use of eyes</li>
  <li class="number">And study too, the causer of your vow;</li>
  <li>For where is any author in the world</li>
  <li>Teaches such beauty as a woman's eye?</li>
  <li>Learning is but an adjunct to ourself</li>
  <li>And where we are our learning likewise is:</li>
  <li class="number">Then when ourselves we see in ladies' eyes,</li>
  <li>Do we not likewise see our learning there?</li>
  <li>O, we have made a vow to study, lords,</li>
  <li>And in that vow we have forsworn our books.</li>
  <li>For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,</li>
  <li class="number">In leaden contemplation have found out</li>
  <li>Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes</li>
  <li>Of beauty's tutors have enrich'd you with?</li>
  <li>Other slow arts entirely keep the brain;</li>
  <li>And therefore, finding barren practisers,</li>
  <li class="number">Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil:</li>
  <li>But love, first learned in a lady's eyes,</li>
  <li>Lives not alone immured in the brain;</li>
  <li>But, with the motion of all elements,</li>
  <li>Courses as swift as thought in every power,</li>
  <li class="number">And gives to every power a double power,</li>
  <li>Above their functions and their offices.</li>
  <li>It adds a precious seeing to the eye;</li>
  <li>A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind;</li>
  <li>A lover's ear will hear the lowest sound,</li>
  <li class="number">When the suspicious head of theft is stopp'd:</li>
  <li>Love's feeling is more soft and sensible</li>
  <li>Than are the tender horns of cockl'd snails;</li>
  <li>Love's tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste:</li>
  <li>For valour, is not Love a Hercules,</li>
  <li class="number">Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?</li>
  <li>Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical</li>
  <li>As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair:</li>
  <li>And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods</li>
  <li>Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.</li>
  <li class="number">Never durst poet touch a pen to write</li>
  <li>Until his ink were temper'd with Love's sighs;</li>
  <li>O, then his lines would ravish savage ears</li>
  <li>And plant in tyrants mild humility.</li>
  <li>From women's eyes this doctrine I derive:</li>
  <li class="number">They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;</li>
  <li>They are the books, the arts, the academes,</li>
  <li>That show, contain and nourish all the world:</li>
  <li>Else none at all in ought proves excellent.</li>
  <li>Then fools you were these women to forswear,</li>
  <li class="number">Or keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.</li>
  <li>For wisdom's sake, a word that all men love,</li>
  <li>Or for love's sake, a word that loves all men,</li>
  <li>Or for men's sake, the authors of these women,</li>
  <li>Or women's sake, by whom we men are men,</li>
  <li class="number">Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,</li>
  <li>Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.</li>
  <li>It is religion to be thus forsworn,</li>
  <li>For charity itself fulfills the law,</li>
  <li>And who can sever love from charity?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Saint Cupid, then! and, soldiers, to the field!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Advance your standards, and upon them, lords;</li>
  <li>Pell-mell, down with them! but be first advised,</li>
  <li>In conflict that you get the sun of them.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Now to plain-dealing; lay these glozes by:</li>
  <li class="number">Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>And win them too: therefore let us devise</li>
  <li>Some entertainment for them in their tents.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>First, from the park let us conduct them thither;</li>
  <li>Then homeward every man attach the hand</li>
  <li class="number">Of his fair mistress: in the afternoon</li>
  <li>We will with some strange pastime solace them,</li>
  <li>Such as the shortness of the time can shape;</li>
  <li>For revels, dances, masks and merry hours</li>
  <li>Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Away, away! no time shall be omitted</li>
  <li>That will betime, and may by us be fitted.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Allons! allons! Sow'd cockle reap'd no corn;</li>
  <li>And justice always whirls in equal measure:</li>
  <li>Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn;</li>
  <li class="number">If so, our copper buys no better treasure.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT V</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HOLOFERNES, SIR NATHANIEL, and DULL</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Satis quod sufficit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>I praise God for you, sir: your reasons at dinner</li>
  <li>have been sharp and sententious; pleasant without</li>
  <li>scurrility, witty without affection, audacious without</li>
  <li class="number">impudency, learned without opinion, and strange with-</li>
  <li>out heresy. I did converse this quondam day with</li>
  <li>a companion of the king's, who is intituled, nomi-</li>
  <li>nated, or called, Don Adriano de Armado.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Novi hominem tanquam te: his humour is lofty, his</li>
  <li class="number">discourse peremptory, his tongue filed, his eye</li>
  <li>ambitious, his gait majestical, and his general</li>
  <li>behavior vain, ridiculous, and thrasonical. He is</li>
  <li>too picked, too spruce, too affected, too odd, as it</li>
  <li>were, too peregrinate, as I may call it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li class="number">A most singular and choice epithet.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Draws out his table-book</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer</li>
  <li>than the staple of his argument. I abhor such</li>
  <li>fanatical phantasimes, such insociable and</li>
  <li>point-devise companions; such rackers of</li>
  <li class="number">orthography, as to speak dout, fine, when he should</li>
  <li>say doubt; det, when he should pronounce debt —  d,</li>
  <li>e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth a calf, cauf;</li>
  <li>half, hauf; neighbour vocatur nebor; neigh</li>
  <li>abbreviated ne. This is abhominable —  which he</li>
  <li class="number">would call abbominable: it insinuateth me of</li>
  <li>insanie: anne intelligis, domine? to make frantic, lunatic.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Laus Deo, bene intelligo.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Bon, bon, fort bon, Priscian! a little scratch'd,</li>
  <li>'twill serve.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li class="number">Videsne quis venit?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Video, et gaudeo.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, MOTH, and COSTARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Chirrah!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">To MOTH</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Quare chirrah, not sirrah?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Men of peace, well encountered.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">Most military sir, salutation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Aside to COSTARD  They have been at a great feast</li>
  <li>of languages, and stolen the scraps.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words.</li>
  <li>I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;</li>
  <li class="number">for thou art not so long by the head as</li>
  <li>honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier</li>
  <li>swallowed than a flap-dragon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Peace! the peal begins.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>To HOLOFERNES  Monsieur, are you not lettered?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">Yes, yes; he teaches boys the hornbook. What is a,</li>
  <li>b, spelt backward, with the horn on his head?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Ba, pueritia, with a horn added.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Ba, most silly sheep with a horn. You hear his learning.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Quis, quis, thou consonant?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them; or</li>
  <li>the fifth, if I.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I will repeat them —  a, e, i —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>The sheep: the other two concludes it —  o, u.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Now, by the salt wave of the Mediterraneum, a sweet</li>
  <li class="number">touch, a quick venue of wit! snip, snap, quick and</li>
  <li>home! it rejoiceth my intellect: true wit!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Offered by a child to an old man; which is wit-old.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>What is the figure? what is the figure?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Horns.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">Thou disputest like an infant: go, whip thy gig.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Lend me your horn to make one, and I will whip about</li>
  <li>your infamy circum circa —  a gig of a cuckold's horn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst</li>
  <li>have it to buy gingerbread: hold, there is the very</li>
  <li class="number">remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny</li>
  <li>purse of wit, thou pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an</li>
  <li>the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my</li>
  <li>bastard, what a joyful father wouldst thou make me!</li>
  <li>Go to; thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers'</li>
  <li class="number">ends, as they say.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>O, I smell false Latin; dunghill for unguem.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Arts-man, preambulate, we will be singled from the</li>
  <li>barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the</li>
  <li>charge-house on the top of the mountain?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">Or mons, the hill.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I do, sans question.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sir, it is the king's most sweet pleasure and</li>
  <li>affection to congratulate the princess at her</li>
  <li class="number">pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the</li>
  <li>rude multitude call the afternoon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is</li>
  <li>liable, congruent and measurable for the afternoon:</li>
  <li>the word is well culled, chose, sweet and apt, I do</li>
  <li class="number">assure you, sir, I do assure.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sir, the king is a noble gentleman, and my familiar,</li>
  <li>I do assure ye, very good friend: for what is</li>
  <li>inward between us, let it pass. I do beseech thee,</li>
  <li>remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy</li>
  <li class="number">head: and among other important and most serious</li>
  <li>designs, and of great import indeed, too, but let</li>
  <li>that pass: for I must tell thee, it will please his</li>
  <li>grace, by the world, sometime to lean upon my poor</li>
  <li>shoulder, and with his royal finger, thus, dally</li>
  <li class="number">with my excrement, with my mustachio; but, sweet</li>
  <li>heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no</li>
  <li>fable: some certain special honours it pleaseth his</li>
  <li>greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of</li>
  <li>travel, that hath seen the world; but let that pass.</li>
  <li class="number">The very all of all is —  but, sweet heart, I do</li>
  <li>implore secrecy —  that the king would have me</li>
  <li>present the princess, sweet chuck, with some</li>
  <li>delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or</li>
  <li>antique, or firework. Now, understanding that the</li>
  <li class="number">curate and your sweet self are good at such</li>
  <li>eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it</li>
  <li>were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to</li>
  <li>crave your assistance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies.</li>
  <li class="number">Sir, as concerning some entertainment of time, some</li>
  <li>show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by</li>
  <li>our assistants, at the king's command, and this most</li>
  <li>gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, before</li>
  <li>the princess; I say none so fit as to present the</li>
  <li class="number">Nine Worthies.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Joshua, yourself; myself and this gallant gentleman,</li>
  <li>Judas Maccabaeus; this swain, because of his great</li>
  <li>limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the</li>
  <li class="number">page, Hercules —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity enough for</li>
  <li>that Worthy's thumb: he is not so big as the end of his club.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in</li>
  <li>minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a</li>
  <li class="number">snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>An excellent device! so, if any of the audience</li>
  <li>hiss, you may cry 'Well done, Hercules! now thou</li>
  <li>crushest the snake!' that is the way to make an</li>
  <li>offence gracious, though few have the grace to do it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">For the rest of the Worthies? — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I will play three myself.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Thrice-worthy gentleman!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Shall I tell you a thing?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>We attend.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">We will have, if this fadge not, an antique. I</li>
  <li>beseech you, follow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no word all this while.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li>Nor understood none neither, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Allons! we will employ thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DULL</li>
  <li class="number">I'll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play</li>
  <li>On the tabour to the Worthies, and let them dance the hay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Most dull, honest Dull! To our sport, away!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter the PRINCESS, KATHARINE, ROSALINE, and MARIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart,</li>
  <li>If fairings come thus plentifully in:</li>
  <li>A lady wall'd about with diamonds!</li>
  <li>Look you what I have from the loving king.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Madame, came nothing else along with that?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Nothing but this! yes, as much love in rhyme</li>
  <li>As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper,</li>
  <li>Writ o' both sides the leaf, margent and all,</li>
  <li>That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">That was the way to make his godhead wax,</li>
  <li>For he hath been five thousand years a boy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>You'll ne'er be friends with him; a' kill'd your sister.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy;</li>
  <li class="number">And so she died: had she been light, like you,</li>
  <li>Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit,</li>
  <li>She might ha' been a grandam ere she died:</li>
  <li>And so may you; for a light heart lives long.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li class="number">A light condition in a beauty dark.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>We need more light to find your meaning out.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>You'll mar the light by taking it in snuff;</li>
  <li>Therefore I'll darkly end the argument.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Look what you do, you do it still i' the dark.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li class="number">So do not you, for you are a light wench.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Indeed I weigh not you, and therefore light.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>You weigh me not? O, that's you care not for me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Great reason; for 'past cure is still past care.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd.</li>
  <li class="number">But Rosaline, you have a favour too:</li>
  <li>Who sent it? and what is it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>I would you knew:</li>
  <li>An if my face were but as fair as yours,</li>
  <li>My favour were as great; be witness this.</li>
  <li class="number">Nay, I have verses too, I thank Biron:</li>
  <li>The numbers true; and, were the numbering too,</li>
  <li>I were the fairest goddess on the ground:</li>
  <li>I am compared to twenty thousand fairs.</li>
  <li>O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Any thing like?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Much in the letters; nothing in the praise.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Fair as a text B in a copy-book.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>'Ware pencils, ho! let me not die your debtor,</li>
  <li class="number">My red dominical, my golden letter:</li>
  <li>O, that your face were not so full of O's!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>A pox of that jest! and I beshrew all shrows.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>But, Katharine, what was sent to you from fair Dumain?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Madam, this glove.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Did he not send you twain?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Yes, madam, and moreover</li>
  <li>Some thousand verses of a faithful lover,</li>
  <li>A huge translation of hypocrisy,</li>
  <li>Vilely compiled, profound simplicity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li class="number">This and these pearls to me sent Longaville:</li>
  <li>The letter is too long by half a mile.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart</li>
  <li>The chain were longer and the letter short?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Ay, or I would these hands might never part.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.</li>
  <li>That same Biron I'll torture ere I go:</li>
  <li>O that I knew he were but in by the week!</li>
  <li>How I would make him fawn and beg and seek</li>
  <li class="number">And wait the season and observe the times</li>
  <li>And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes</li>
  <li>And shape his service wholly to my hests</li>
  <li>And make him proud to make me proud that jests!</li>
  <li>So perttaunt-like would I o'ersway his state</li>
  <li class="number">That he should be my fool and I his fate.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd,</li>
  <li>As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd,</li>
  <li>Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school</li>
  <li>And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">The blood of youth burns not with such excess</li>
  <li>As gravity's revolt to wantonness.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Folly in fools bears not so strong a note</li>
  <li>As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote;</li>
  <li>Since all the power thereof it doth apply</li>
  <li class="number">To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter BOYET</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Thy news Boyet?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Prepare, madam, prepare!</li>
  <li class="number">Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are</li>
  <li>Against your peace: Love doth approach disguised,</li>
  <li>Armed in arguments; you'll be surprised:</li>
  <li>Muster your wits; stand in your own defence;</li>
  <li>Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they</li>
  <li>That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Under the cool shade of a sycamore</li>
  <li>I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour;</li>
  <li>When, lo! to interrupt my purposed rest,</li>
  <li class="number">Toward that shade I might behold addrest</li>
  <li>The king and his companions: warily</li>
  <li>I stole into a neighbour thicket by,</li>
  <li>And overheard what you shall overhear,</li>
  <li>That, by and by, disguised they will be here.</li>
  <li class="number">Their herald is a pretty knavish page,</li>
  <li>That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:</li>
  <li>Action and accent did they teach him there;</li>
  <li>'Thus must thou speak,' and 'thus thy body bear:'</li>
  <li>And ever and anon they made a doubt</li>
  <li class="number">Presence majestical would put him out,</li>
  <li>'For,' quoth the king, 'an angel shalt thou see;</li>
  <li>Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.'</li>
  <li>The boy replied, 'An angel is not evil;</li>
  <li>I should have fear'd her had she been a devil.'</li>
  <li class="number">With that, all laugh'd and clapp'd him on the shoulder,</li>
  <li>Making the bold wag by their praises bolder:</li>
  <li>One rubb'd his elbow thus, and fleer'd and swore</li>
  <li>A better speech was never spoke before;</li>
  <li>Another, with his finger and his thumb,</li>
  <li class="number">Cried, 'Via! we will do't, come what will come;'</li>
  <li>The third he caper'd, and cried, 'All goes well;'</li>
  <li>The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.</li>
  <li>With that, they all did tumble on the ground,</li>
  <li>With such a zealous laughter, so profound,</li>
  <li class="number">That in this spleen ridiculous appears,</li>
  <li>To cheque their folly, passion's solemn tears.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>But what, but what, come they to visit us?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>They do, they do: and are apparell'd thus.</li>
  <li>Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess.</li>
  <li class="number">Their purpose is to parle, to court and dance;</li>
  <li>And every one his love-feat will advance</li>
  <li>Unto his several mistress, which they'll know</li>
  <li>By favours several which they did bestow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd;</li>
  <li class="number">For, ladies, we shall every one be mask'd;</li>
  <li>And not a man of them shall have the grace,</li>
  <li>Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.</li>
  <li>Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear,</li>
  <li>And then the king will court thee for his dear;</li>
  <li class="number">Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine,</li>
  <li>So shall Biron take me for Rosaline.</li>
  <li>And change your favours too; so shall your loves</li>
  <li>Woo contrary, deceived by these removes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Come on, then; wear the favours most in sight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li class="number">But in this changing what is your intent?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>The effect of my intent is to cross theirs:</li>
  <li>They do it but in mocking merriment;</li>
  <li>And mock for mock is only my intent.</li>
  <li>Their several counsels they unbosom shall</li>
  <li class="number">To loves mistook, and so be mock'd withal</li>
  <li>Upon the next occasion that we meet,</li>
  <li>With visages displayed, to talk and greet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>But shall we dance, if they desire to't?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>No, to the death, we will not move a foot;</li>
  <li class="number">Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace,</li>
  <li>But while 'tis spoke each turn away her face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart,</li>
  <li>And quite divorce his memory from his part.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt</li>
  <li class="number">The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out</li>
  <li>There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown,</li>
  <li>To make theirs ours and ours none but our own:</li>
  <li>So shall we stay, mocking intended game,</li>
  <li>And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Trumpets sound within</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">The trumpet sounds: be mask'd; the maskers come.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">The Ladies mask</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter Blackamoors with music; MOTH; FERDINAND,
BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in Russian habits,
and masked</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>All hail, the richest beauties on the earth! — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Beauties no richer than rich taffeta.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>A holy parcel of the fairest dames.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">The Ladies turn their backs to him</li>
  <li>That ever turn'd their — backs — to mortal views!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Aside to MOTH  Their eyes, villain, their eyes!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views! — Out — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>True; out indeed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe</li>
  <li>Not to behold — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Aside to MOTH  Once to behold, rogue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes,</li>
  <li> — with your sun-beamed eyes — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>They will not answer to that epithet;</li>
  <li>You were best call it 'daughter-beamed eyes.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li class="number">They do not mark me, and that brings me out.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit MOTH</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet:</li>
  <li>If they do speak our language, 'tis our will:</li>
  <li>That some plain man recount their purposes</li>
  <li class="number">Know what they would.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>What would you with the princess?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>What would they, say they?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>She says, you have it, and you may be gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Say to her, we have measured many miles</li>
  <li>To tread a measure with her on this grass.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>They say, that they have measured many a mile</li>
  <li class="number">To tread a measure with you on this grass.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>It is not so. Ask them how many inches</li>
  <li>Is in one mile: if they have measured many,</li>
  <li>The measure then of one is easily told.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>If to come hither you have measured miles,</li>
  <li class="number">And many miles, the princess bids you tell</li>
  <li>How many inches doth fill up one mile.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>She hears herself.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>How many weary steps,</li>
  <li class="number">Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,</li>
  <li>Are number'd in the travel of one mile?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>We number nothing that we spend for you:</li>
  <li>Our duty is so rich, so infinite,</li>
  <li>That we may do it still without accompt.</li>
  <li class="number">Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face,</li>
  <li>That we, like savages, may worship it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>My face is but a moon, and clouded too.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!</li>
  <li>Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine,</li>
  <li class="number">Those clouds removed, upon our watery eyne.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter;</li>
  <li>Thou now request'st but moonshine in the water.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Then, in our measure do but vouchsafe one change.</li>
  <li>Thou bid'st me beg: this begging is not strange.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Music plays</li>
  <li>Not yet! no dance! Thus change I like the moon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Will you not dance? How come you thus estranged?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>You took the moon at full, but now she's changed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.</li>
  <li class="number">The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Our ears vouchsafe it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>But your legs should do it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Since you are strangers and come here by chance,</li>
  <li>We'll not be nice: take hands. We will not dance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Why take we hands, then?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Only to part friends:</li>
  <li>Curtsy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>More measure of this measure; be not nice.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>We can afford no more at such a price.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Prize you yourselves: what buys your company?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Your absence only.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>That can never be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Then cannot we be bought: and so, adieu;</li>
  <li>Twice to your visor, and half once to you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">If you deny to dance, let's hold more chat.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>In private, then.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>I am best pleased with that.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They converse apart</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Nay then, two treys, and if you grow so nice,</li>
  <li>Metheglin, wort, and malmsey: well run, dice!</li>
  <li>There's half-a-dozen sweets.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Seventh sweet, adieu:</li>
  <li>Since you can cog, I'll play no more with you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">One word in secret.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Let it not be sweet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Thou grievest my gall.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Gall! bitter.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Therefore meet.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They converse apart</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Name it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Fair lady —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Say you so? Fair lord —  </li>
  <li>Take that for your fair lady.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Please it you,</li>
  <li>As much in private, and I'll bid adieu.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They converse apart</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>What, was your vizard made without a tongue?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I know the reason, lady, why you ask.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>O for your reason! quickly, sir; I long.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">You have a double tongue within your mask,</li>
  <li>And would afford my speechless vizard half.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Veal, quoth the Dutchman. Is not 'veal' a calf?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>A calf, fair lady!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>No, a fair lord calf.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">Let's part the word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>No, I'll not be your half</li>
  <li>Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!</li>
  <li>Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li class="number">Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>One word in private with you, ere I die.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Bleat softly then; the butcher hears you cry.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They converse apart</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen</li>
  <li>As is the razor's edge invisible,</li>
  <li class="number">Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen,</li>
  <li>Above the sense of sense; so sensible</li>
  <li>Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings</li>
  <li>Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovits.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exeunt FERDINAND, Lords, and Blackamoors</li>
  <li>Are these the breed of wits so wonder'd at?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff'd out.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Well-liking wits they have; gross, gross; fat, fat.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout!</li>
  <li>Will they not, think you, hang themselves tonight?</li>
  <li>Or ever, but in vizards, show their faces?</li>
  <li>This pert Biron was out of countenance quite.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">O, they were all in lamentable cases!</li>
  <li>The king was weeping-ripe for a good word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Biron did swear himself out of all suit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Dumain was at my service, and his sword:</li>
  <li>No point, quoth I; my servant straight was mute.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li class="number">Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart;</li>
  <li>And trow you what he called me?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Qualm, perhaps.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Yes, in good faith.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Go, sickness as thou art!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps.</li>
  <li>But will you hear? the king is my love sworn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>And quick Biron hath plighted faith to me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>And Longaville was for my service born.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on tree.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear:</li>
  <li>Immediately they will again be here</li>
  <li>In their own shapes; for it can never be</li>
  <li>They will digest this harsh indignity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Will they return?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">They will, they will, God knows,</li>
  <li>And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:</li>
  <li>Therefore change favours; and, when they repair,</li>
  <li>Blow like sweet roses in this summer air.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>How blow? how blow? speak to be understood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Fair ladies mask'd are roses in their bud;</li>
  <li>Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown,</li>
  <li>Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do,</li>
  <li>If they return in their own shapes to woo?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Good madam, if by me you'll be advised,</li>
  <li>Let's, mock them still, as well known as disguised:</li>
  <li>Let us complain to them what fools were here,</li>
  <li>Disguised like Muscovites, in shapeless gear;</li>
  <li>And wonder what they were and to what end</li>
  <li class="number">Their shallow shows and prologue vilely penn'd</li>
  <li>And their rough carriage so ridiculous,</li>
  <li>Should be presented at our tent to us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Ladies, withdraw: the gallants are at hand.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Whip to our tents, as roes run o'er land.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt PRINCESS, ROSALINE, KATHARINE, and MARIA</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter FERDINAND, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN,
in their proper habits</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Fair sir, God save you! Where's the princess?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Gone to her tent. Please it your majesty</li>
  <li>Command me any service to her thither?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>I will; and so will she, I know, my lord.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease,</li>
  <li>And utters it again when God doth please:</li>
  <li>He is wit's pedler, and retails his wares</li>
  <li>At wakes and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs;</li>
  <li>And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know,</li>
  <li class="number">Have not the grace to grace it with such show.</li>
  <li>This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;</li>
  <li>Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve;</li>
  <li>A' can carve too, and lisp: why, this is he</li>
  <li>That kiss'd his hand away in courtesy;</li>
  <li class="number">This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,</li>
  <li>That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice</li>
  <li>In honourable terms: nay, he can sing</li>
  <li>A mean most meanly; and in ushering</li>
  <li>Mend him who can: the ladies call him sweet;</li>
  <li class="number">The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet:</li>
  <li>This is the flower that smiles on every one,</li>
  <li>To show his teeth as white as whale's bone;</li>
  <li>And consciences, that will not die in debt,</li>
  <li>Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">A blister on his sweet tongue, with my heart,</li>
  <li>That put Armado's page out of his part!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>See where it comes! Behavior, what wert thou</li>
  <li>Till this madman show'd thee? and what art thou now?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter the PRINCESS, ushered by BOYET, ROSALINE,
MARIA, and KATHARINE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">'Fair' in 'all hail' is foul, as I conceive.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Construe my speeches better, if you may.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Then wish me better; I will give you leave.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>We came to visit you, and purpose now</li>
  <li>To lead you to our court; vouchsafe it then.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">This field shall hold me; and so hold your vow:</li>
  <li>Nor God, nor I, delights in perjured men.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Rebuke me not for that which you provoke:</li>
  <li>The virtue of your eye must break my oath.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke;</li>
  <li class="number">For virtue's office never breaks men's troth.</li>
  <li>Now by my maiden honour, yet as pure</li>
  <li>As the unsullied lily, I protest,</li>
  <li>A world of torments though I should endure,</li>
  <li>I would not yield to be your house's guest;</li>
  <li class="number">So much I hate a breaking cause to be</li>
  <li>Of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>O, you have lived in desolation here,</li>
  <li>Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;</li>
  <li class="number">We have had pastimes here and pleasant game:</li>
  <li>A mess of Russians left us but of late.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>How, madam! Russians!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Ay, in truth, my lord;</li>
  <li>Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord:</li>
  <li>My lady, to the manner of the days,</li>
  <li>In courtesy gives undeserving praise.</li>
  <li>We four indeed confronted were with four</li>
  <li>In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour,</li>
  <li class="number">And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,</li>
  <li>They did not bless us with one happy word.</li>
  <li>I dare not call them fools; but this I think,</li>
  <li>When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>This jest is dry to me. Fair gentle sweet,</li>
  <li class="number">Your wit makes wise things foolish: when we greet,</li>
  <li>With eyes best seeing, heaven's fiery eye,</li>
  <li>By light we lose light: your capacity</li>
  <li>Is of that nature that to your huge store</li>
  <li>Wise things seem foolish and rich things but poor.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">This proves you wise and rich, for in my eye —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I am a fool, and full of poverty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>But that you take what doth to you belong,</li>
  <li>It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>O, I am yours, and all that I possess!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">All the fool mine?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>I cannot give you less.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Which of the vizards was it that you wore?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Where? when? what vizard? why demand you this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>There, then, that vizard; that superfluous case</li>
  <li class="number">That hid the worse and show'd the better face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>We are descried; they'll mock us now downright.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Let us confess and turn it to a jest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Amazed, my lord? why looks your highness sad?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Help, hold his brows! he'll swoon! Why look you pale?</li>
  <li class="number">Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.</li>
  <li>Can any face of brass hold longer out?</li>
  <li>Here stand I lady, dart thy skill at me;</li>
  <li>Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout;</li>
  <li class="number">Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance;</li>
  <li>Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;</li>
  <li>And I will wish thee never more to dance,</li>
  <li>Nor never more in Russian habit wait.</li>
  <li>O, never will I trust to speeches penn'd,</li>
  <li class="number">Nor to the motion of a schoolboy's tongue,</li>
  <li>Nor never come in vizard to my friend,</li>
  <li>Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's song!</li>
  <li>Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,</li>
  <li>Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affectation,</li>
  <li class="number">Figures pedantical; these summer-flies</li>
  <li>Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:</li>
  <li>I do forswear them; and I here protest,</li>
  <li>By this white glove; — how white the hand, God knows! — </li>
  <li>Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd</li>
  <li class="number">In russet yeas and honest kersey noes:</li>
  <li>And, to begin, wench —  so God help me, la! — </li>
  <li>My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Sans sans, I pray you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Yet I have a trick</li>
  <li class="number">Of the old rage: bear with me, I am sick;</li>
  <li>I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see:</li>
  <li>Write, 'Lord have mercy on us' on those three;</li>
  <li>They are infected; in their hearts it lies;</li>
  <li>They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes;</li>
  <li class="number">These lords are visited; you are not free,</li>
  <li>For the Lord's tokens on you do I see.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>No, they are free that gave these tokens to us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Our states are forfeit: seek not to undo us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>It is not so; for how can this be true,</li>
  <li class="number">That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Peace! for I will not have to do with you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Speak for yourselves; my wit is at an end.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression</li>
  <li class="number">Some fair excuse.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>The fairest is confession.</li>
  <li>Were not you here but even now disguised?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Madam, I was.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>And were you well advised?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">I was, fair madam.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>When you then were here,</li>
  <li>What did you whisper in your lady's ear?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>That more than all the world I did respect her.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>When she shall challenge this, you will reject her.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Upon mine honour, no.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Peace, peace! forbear:</li>
  <li>Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Despise me, when I break this oath of mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>I will: and therefore keep it. Rosaline,</li>
  <li class="number">What did the Russian whisper in your ear?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear</li>
  <li>As precious eyesight, and did value me</li>
  <li>Above this world; adding thereto moreover</li>
  <li>That he would wed me, or else die my lover.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">God give thee joy of him! the noble lord</li>
  <li>Most honourably doth unhold his word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth,</li>
  <li>I never swore this lady such an oath.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain,</li>
  <li class="number">You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>My faith and this the princess I did give:</li>
  <li>I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear;</li>
  <li>And Lord Biron, I thank him, is my dear.</li>
  <li class="number">What, will you have me, or your pearl again?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Neither of either; I remit both twain.</li>
  <li>I see the trick on't: here was a consent,</li>
  <li>Knowing aforehand of our merriment,</li>
  <li>To dash it like a Christmas comedy:</li>
  <li class="number">Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,</li>
  <li>Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some Dick,</li>
  <li>That smiles his cheek in years and knows the trick</li>
  <li>To make my lady laugh when she's disposed,</li>
  <li>Told our intents before; which once disclosed,</li>
  <li class="number">The ladies did change favours: and then we,</li>
  <li>Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.</li>
  <li>Now, to our perjury to add more terror,</li>
  <li>We are again forsworn, in will and error.</li>
  <li>Much upon this it is: and might not you</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?</li>
  <li>Do not you know my lady's foot by the squier,</li>
  <li>And laugh upon the apple of her eye?</li>
  <li>And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,</li>
  <li>Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?</li>
  <li class="number">You put our page out: go, you are allow'd;</li>
  <li>Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud.</li>
  <li>You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye</li>
  <li>Wounds like a leaden sword.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Full merrily</li>
  <li class="number">Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace! I have done.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter COSTARD</li>
  <li>Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>O Lord, sir, they would know</li>
  <li>Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">What, are there but three?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>No, sir; but it is vara fine,</li>
  <li>For every one pursents three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>And three times thrice is nine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope it is not so.</li>
  <li class="number">You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir we know</li>
  <li>what we know:</li>
  <li>I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Is not nine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living</li>
  <li>by reckoning, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>How much is it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors,</li>
  <li class="number">sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for mine</li>
  <li>own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man</li>
  <li>in one poor man, Pompion the Great, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Art thou one of the Worthies?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the</li>
  <li class="number">Great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of</li>
  <li>the Worthy, but I am to stand for him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Go, bid them prepare.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take</li>
  <li>some care.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Biron, they will shame us: let them not approach.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>We are shame-proof, my lord: and tis some policy</li>
  <li>To have one show worse than the king's and his company.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>I say they shall not come.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Nay, my good lord, let me o'errule you now:</li>
  <li class="number">That sport best pleases that doth least know how:</li>
  <li>Where zeal strives to content, and the contents</li>
  <li>Dies in the zeal of that which it presents:</li>
  <li>Their form confounded makes most form in mirth,</li>
  <li>When great things labouring perish in their birth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">A right description of our sport, my lord.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal</li>
  <li>sweet breath as will utter a brace of words.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Converses apart with FERDINAND, and delivers him a paper</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Doth this man serve God?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Why ask you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">He speaks not like a man of God's making.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for,</li>
  <li>I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding</li>
  <li>fantastical; too, too vain, too too vain: but we</li>
  <li>will put it, as they say, to fortuna de la guerra.</li>
  <li class="number">I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies. He</li>
  <li>presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the</li>
  <li>Great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page,</li>
  <li>Hercules; the pedant, Judas Maccabaeus: And if</li>
  <li class="number">these four Worthies in their first show thrive,</li>
  <li>These four will change habits, and present the other five.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>There is five in the first show.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>You are deceived; 'tis not so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool</li>
  <li class="number">and the boy: — </li>
  <li>Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again</li>
  <li>Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter COSTARD, for Pompey</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I Pompey am —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">You lie, you are not he.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I Pompey am —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>With libbard's head on knee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends</li>
  <li>with thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>The Great.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>It is, 'Great,' sir: — </li>
  <li>Pompey surnamed the Great;</li>
  <li>That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make</li>
  <li class="number">my foe to sweat:</li>
  <li>And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance,</li>
  <li>And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France,</li>
  <li>If your ladyship would say, 'Thanks, Pompey,' I had done.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Great thanks, great Pompey.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect: I</li>
  <li>made a little fault in 'Great.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter SIR NATHANIEL, for Alexander</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>When in the world I lived, I was the world's</li>
  <li>commander;</li>
  <li class="number">By east, west, north, and south, I spread my</li>
  <li>conquering might:</li>
  <li>My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Your nose says, no, you are not for it stands too right.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Your nose smells 'no' in this, most tender-smelling knight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR NATHANIEL</li>
  <li>When in the world I lived, I was the world's</li>
  <li>commander —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Pompey the Great —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">Your servant, and Costard.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>To SIR NATHANIEL  O, sir, you have overthrown</li>
  <li>Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of</li>
  <li>the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds</li>
  <li class="number">his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given</li>
  <li>to Ajax: he will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror,</li>
  <li>and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">SIR NATHANIEL retires</li>
  <li>There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an</li>
  <li>honest man, look you, and soon dashed. He is a</li>
  <li class="number">marvellous good neighbour, faith, and a very good</li>
  <li>bowler: but, for Alisander —  alas, you see how</li>
  <li>'tis —  a little o'erparted. But there are Worthies</li>
  <li>a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HOLOFERNES, for Judas; and MOTH, for Hercules</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Great Hercules is presented by this imp,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canis;</li>
  <li>And when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp,</li>
  <li>Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus.</li>
  <li>Quoniam he seemeth in minority,</li>
  <li>Ergo I come with this apology.</li>
  <li class="number">Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">MOTH retires</li>
  <li>Judas I am —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>A Judas!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Not Iscariot, sir.</li>
  <li>Judas I am, ycliped Maccabaeus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Judas Maccabaeus clipt is plain Judas.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>A kissing traitor. How art thou proved Judas?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Judas I am —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>The more shame for you, Judas.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>What mean you, sir?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">To make Judas hang himself.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>Begin, sir; you are my elder.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Well followed: Judas was hanged on an elder.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>I will not be put out of countenance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Because thou hast no face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li class="number">What is this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>A cittern-head.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>The head of a bodkin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>A Death's face in a ring.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">The pommel of Caesar's falchion.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>The carved-bone face on a flask.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Saint George's half-cheek in a brooch.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Ay, and in a brooch of lead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer.</li>
  <li class="number">And now forward; for we have put thee in countenance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>You have put me out of countenance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>False; we have given thee faces.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>But you have out-faced them all.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>An thou wert a lion, we would do so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go.</li>
  <li>And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou stay?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>For the latter end of his name.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>For the ass to the Jude; give it him: — Jud-as, away!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HOLOFERNES</li>
  <li>This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">A light for Monsieur Judas! it grows dark, he may stumble.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">HOLOFERNES retires</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Alas, poor Maccabaeus, how hath he been baited!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, for Hector</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Hide thy head, Achilles: here comes Hector in arms.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Hector was but a Troyan in respect of this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">But is this Hector?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>I think Hector was not so clean-timbered.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>His leg is too big for Hector's.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>More calf, certain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>No; he is best endued in the small.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">This cannot be Hector.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,</li>
  <li>Gave Hector a gift —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>A gilt nutmeg.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">A lemon.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>Stuck with cloves.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>No, cloven.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Peace! — </li>
  <li>The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty</li>
  <li class="number">Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion;</li>
  <li>A man so breathed, that certain he would fight; yea</li>
  <li>From morn till night, out of his pavilion.</li>
  <li>I am that flower —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>That mint.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">That columbine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Ay, and Hector's a greyhound.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks,</li>
  <li class="number">beat not the bones of the buried: when he breathed,</li>
  <li>he was a man. But I will forward with my device.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To the PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Speak, brave Hector: we are much delighted.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Aside to DUMAIN  Loves her by the foot —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Aside to BOYET  He may not by the yard.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>This Hector far surmounted Hannibal —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone; she</li>
  <li>is two months on her way.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">What meanest thou?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Faith, unless you play the honest Troyan, the poor</li>
  <li>wench is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in</li>
  <li>her belly already: tis yours.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Dost thou infamonize me among potentates? thou shalt</li>
  <li class="number">die.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta that is</li>
  <li>quick by him and hanged for Pompey that is dead by</li>
  <li>him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Most rare Pompey!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li class="number">Renowned Pompey!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey!</li>
  <li>Pompey the Huge!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Hector trembles.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Pompey is moved. More Ates, more Ates! stir them</li>
  <li class="number">on! stir them on!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Hector will challenge him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Ay, if a' have no man's blood in's belly than will</li>
  <li>sup a flea.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>By the north pole, I do challenge thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li class="number">I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man:</li>
  <li>I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword. I bepray you,</li>
  <li>let me borrow my arms again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>Room for the incensed Worthies!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">COSTARD</li>
  <li>I'll do it in my shirt.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Most resolute Pompey!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MOTH</li>
  <li>Master, let me take you a buttonhole lower. Do you</li>
  <li>not see Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean</li>
  <li>you? You will lose your reputation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat</li>
  <li class="number">in my shirt.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>You may not deny it: Pompey hath made the challenge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet bloods, I both may and will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>What reason have you for't?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go</li>
  <li class="number">woolward for penance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BOYET</li>
  <li>True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of</li>
  <li>linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none but</li>
  <li>a dishclout of Jaquenetta's, and that a' wears next</li>
  <li>his heart for a favour.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter MERCADE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MERCADE</li>
  <li class="number">God save you, madam!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Welcome, Mercade;</li>
  <li>But that thou interrupt'st our merriment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MERCADE</li>
  <li>I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring</li>
  <li>Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">Dead, for my life!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MERCADE</li>
  <li>Even so; my tale is told.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Worthies, away! the scene begins to cloud.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>For mine own part, I breathe free breath. I have</li>
  <li>seen the day of wrong through the little hole of</li>
  <li class="number">discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt Worthies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>How fares your majesty?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Boyet, prepare; I will away tonight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Prepare, I say. I thank you, gracious lords,</li>
  <li class="number">For all your fair endeavors; and entreat,</li>
  <li>Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe</li>
  <li>In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide</li>
  <li>The liberal opposition of our spirits,</li>
  <li>If over-boldly we have borne ourselves</li>
  <li class="number">In the converse of breath: your gentleness</li>
  <li>Was guilty of it. Farewell worthy lord!</li>
  <li>A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue:</li>
  <li>Excuse me so, coming too short of thanks</li>
  <li>For my great suit so easily obtain'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">The extreme parts of time extremely forms</li>
  <li>All causes to the purpose of his speed,</li>
  <li>And often at his very loose decides</li>
  <li>That which long process could not arbitrate:</li>
  <li>And though the mourning brow of progeny</li>
  <li class="number">Forbid the smiling courtesy of love</li>
  <li>The holy suit which fain it would convince,</li>
  <li>Yet, since love's argument was first on foot,</li>
  <li>Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it</li>
  <li>From what it purposed; since, to wail friends lost</li>
  <li class="number">Is not by much so wholesome-profitable</li>
  <li>As to rejoice at friends but newly found.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>I understand you not: my griefs are double.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief;</li>
  <li>And by these badges understand the king.</li>
  <li class="number">For your fair sakes have we neglected time,</li>
  <li>Play'd foul play with our oaths: your beauty, ladies,</li>
  <li>Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours</li>
  <li>Even to the opposed end of our intents:</li>
  <li>And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous —  </li>
  <li class="number">As love is full of unbefitting strains,</li>
  <li>All wanton as a child, skipping and vain,</li>
  <li>Form'd by the eye and therefore, like the eye,</li>
  <li>Full of strange shapes, of habits and of forms,</li>
  <li>Varying in subjects as the eye doth roll</li>
  <li class="number">To every varied object in his glance:</li>
  <li>Which parti-coated presence of loose love</li>
  <li>Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes,</li>
  <li>Have misbecomed our oaths and gravities,</li>
  <li>Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults,</li>
  <li class="number">Suggested us to make. Therefore, ladies,</li>
  <li>Our love being yours, the error that love makes</li>
  <li>Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false,</li>
  <li>By being once false for ever to be true</li>
  <li>To those that make us both —  fair ladies, you:</li>
  <li class="number">And even that falsehood, in itself a sin,</li>
  <li>Thus purifies itself and turns to grace.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>We have received your letters full of love;</li>
  <li>Your favours, the ambassadors of love;</li>
  <li>And, in our maiden council, rated them</li>
  <li class="number">At courtship, pleasant jest and courtesy,</li>
  <li>As bombast and as lining to the time:</li>
  <li>But more devout than this in our respects</li>
  <li>Have we not been; and therefore met your loves</li>
  <li>In their own fashion, like a merriment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">Our letters, madam, show'd much more than jest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>So did our looks.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>We did not quote them so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Now, at the latest minute of the hour,</li>
  <li>Grant us your loves.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">A time, methinks, too short</li>
  <li>To make a world-without-end bargain in.</li>
  <li>No, no, my lord, your grace is perjured much,</li>
  <li>Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this:</li>
  <li>If for my love, as there is no such cause,</li>
  <li class="number">You will do aught, this shall you do for me:</li>
  <li>Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed</li>
  <li>To some forlorn and naked hermitage,</li>
  <li>Remote from all the pleasures of the world;</li>
  <li>There stay until the twelve celestial signs</li>
  <li class="number">Have brought about the annual reckoning.</li>
  <li>If this austere insociable life</li>
  <li>Change not your offer made in heat of blood;</li>
  <li>If frosts and fasts, hard lodging and thin weeds</li>
  <li>Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love,</li>
  <li class="number">But that it bear this trial and last love;</li>
  <li>Then, at the expiration of the year,</li>
  <li>Come challenge me, challenge me by these deserts,</li>
  <li>And, by this virgin palm now kissing thine</li>
  <li>I will be thine; and till that instant shut</li>
  <li class="number">My woeful self up in a mourning house,</li>
  <li>Raining the tears of lamentation</li>
  <li>For the remembrance of my father's death.</li>
  <li>If this thou do deny, let our hands part,</li>
  <li>Neither entitled in the other's heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">If this, or more than this, I would deny,</li>
  <li>To flatter up these powers of mine with rest,</li>
  <li>The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!</li>
  <li>Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>[And what to me, my love? and what to me?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li class="number">You must be purged too, your sins are rack'd,</li>
  <li>You are attaint with faults and perjury:</li>
  <li>Therefore if you my favour mean to get,</li>
  <li>A twelvemonth shall you spend, and never rest,</li>
  <li>But seek the weary beds of people sick.]</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">But what to me, my love? but what to me? A wife?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>A beard, fair health, and honesty;</li>
  <li>With three-fold love I wish you all these three.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Not so, my lord; a twelvemonth and a day</li>
  <li class="number">I'll mark no words that smooth-faced wooers say:</li>
  <li>Come when the king doth to my lady come;</li>
  <li>Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li>I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KATHARINE</li>
  <li>Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li class="number">What says Maria?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>At the twelvemonth's end</li>
  <li>I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LONGAVILLE</li>
  <li>I'll stay with patience; but the time is long.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARIA</li>
  <li>The liker you; few taller are so young.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Studies my lady? mistress, look on me;</li>
  <li>Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,</li>
  <li>What humble suit attends thy answer there:</li>
  <li>Impose some service on me for thy love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Oft have I heard of you, my Lord Biron,</li>
  <li class="number">Before I saw you; and the world's large tongue</li>
  <li>Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks,</li>
  <li>Full of comparisons and wounding flouts,</li>
  <li>Which you on all estates will execute</li>
  <li>That lie within the mercy of your wit.</li>
  <li class="number">To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain,</li>
  <li>And therewithal to win me, if you please,</li>
  <li>Without the which I am not to be won,</li>
  <li>You shall this twelvemonth term from day to day</li>
  <li>Visit the speechless sick and still converse</li>
  <li class="number">With groaning wretches; and your task shall be,</li>
  <li>With all the fierce endeavor of your wit</li>
  <li>To enforce the pained impotent to smile.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>To move wild laughter in the throat of death?</li>
  <li>It cannot be; it is impossible:</li>
  <li class="number">Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">ROSALINE</li>
  <li>Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit,</li>
  <li>Whose influence is begot of that loose grace</li>
  <li>Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools:</li>
  <li>A jest's prosperity lies in the ear</li>
  <li class="number">Of him that hears it, never in the tongue</li>
  <li>Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears,</li>
  <li>Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear groans,</li>
  <li>Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,</li>
  <li>And I will have you and that fault withal;</li>
  <li class="number">But if they will not, throw away that spirit,</li>
  <li>And I shall find you empty of that fault,</li>
  <li>Right joyful of your reformation.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>A twelvemonth! well; befall what will befall,</li>
  <li>I'll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li class="number">To FERDINAND  Ay, sweet my lord; and so I take my leave.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>No, madam; we will bring you on your way.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>Our wooing doth not end like an old play;</li>
  <li>Jack hath not Jill: these ladies' courtesy</li>
  <li>Might well have made our sport a comedy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li class="number">Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day,</li>
  <li>And then 'twill end.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BIRON</li>
  <li>That's too long for a play.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PRINCESS</li>
  <li>Was not that Hector?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUMAIN</li>
  <li class="number">The worthy knight of Troy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave. I am</li>
  <li>a votary; I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the</li>
  <li>plough for her sweet love three years. But, most</li>
  <li>esteemed greatness, will you hear the dialogue that</li>
  <li class="number">the two learned men have compiled in praise of the</li>
  <li>owl and the cuckoo? It should have followed in the</li>
  <li>end of our show.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">FERDINAND</li>
  <li>Call them forth quickly; we will do so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li>Holla! approach.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Re-enter HOLOFERNES, SIR NATHANIEL, MOTH, COSTARD,
and others</li>
  <li class="number">This side is Hiems, Winter, this Ver, the Spring;</li>
  <li>the one maintained by the owl, the other by the</li>
  <li>cuckoo. Ver, begin.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">THE SONG</li>
  <li class="subhead">SPRING.</li>
  <li>When daisies pied and violets blue</li>
  <li>And lady-smocks all silver-white</li>
  <li class="number">And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue</li>
  <li>Do paint the meadows with delight,</li>
  <li>The cuckoo then, on every tree,</li>
  <li>Mocks married men; for thus sings he,  Cuckoo;</li>
  <li>Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,</li>
  <li class="number">Unpleasing to a married ear!</li>
  <li>When shepherds pipe on oaten straws</li>
  <li>And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks,</li>
  <li>When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,</li>
  <li>And maidens bleach their summer smocks</li>
  <li class="number">The cuckoo then, on every tree,</li>
  <li>Mocks married men; for thus sings he,  Cuckoo;</li>
  <li>Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,</li>
  <li>Unpleasing to a married ear!</li>
  <li class="subhead">WINTER.</li>
  <li>When icicles hang by the wall</li>
  <li class="number">And Dick the shepherd blows his nail</li>
  <li>And Tom bears logs into the hall</li>
  <li>And milk comes frozen home in pail,</li>
  <li>When blood is nipp'd and ways be foul,</li>
  <li>Then nightly sings the staring owl,  Tu-whit;</li>
  <li class="number">Tu-who, a merry note,</li>
  <li>While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.</li>
  <li>When all aloud the wind doth blow</li>
  <li>And coughing drowns the parson's saw</li>
  <li>And birds sit brooding in the snow</li>
  <li class="number">And Marian's nose looks red and raw,</li>
  <li>When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,</li>
  <li>Then nightly sings the staring owl,  Tu-whit;</li>
  <li>Tu-who, a merry note,</li>
  <li>While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO</li>
  <li class="number">The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of</li>
  <li>Apollo. You that way: we this way.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

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